← Elaine Ingham · Research and publications
Mycorrhizae and bacteria: what changes around the roots?
A 1984 study examines how a mycorrhizal fungus influences different bacterial populations in the rhizosphere.
Study published: · Sources checked: 22 October 2026
The question
Ames, Reid and Elaine Ingham studied blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) in pots, with and without the fungus identified in the paper as Glomus mosseae, to examine bacterial responses around the roots. [1]
How they compared populations
The researchers counted culturable bacterial populations and actinomycetes in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil using colony counts on culture media. [1]
What they found
Responses differed among populations and according to the measurement basis. Mycorrhizal plants had fewer total bacterial colony-forming units per gram of dry root. One bacterial species had more colony-forming units per gram of rhizosphere soil. The fungus was also associated with different positive correlations between particular bacterial populations. [1]
Reading the findings
The study highlights specific interactions, describing culturable organisms in the experimental system examined. [1]
A question for our training
For our Center, this connects the root, microbial life and the measurement method. When comparing samples, we want to record what is measured and the quantity used to express each result. This is our priority for organising observations.
This presentation draws on the published scientific abstract. The educational connection with our Center’s work is our editorial synthesis.
Sources and references
- Ames, R. N., Reid, C. P. P. & Ingham, E. R. (1984). Rhizosphere bacterial population responses to root colonization by a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. New Phytologist, 96(4), 555–563. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1984.tb03590.x
- Publisher page and scientific abstract