Pacyna JM (2020) Recent advances in mercury research. Sci Total Environ 738:139955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139955 Lu R-R, Hu Z-H, Zhang Q-L, Li Y-Q, Lin M, Wang X-L, Wu X-N et al (2020) The effect of Funneliformis mosseae on the plant growth, Cd translocation and accumulation in the new Cd-hyperaccumulator Sphagneticola calendulacea. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 203:110988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110988

The most important use of mycorrhizal fungi is as a one-off aid when planting, especially of bare rooted trees, shrubs, roses, hedging, fruit, and perennials. Mycorrhizal fungi is also beneficial when growing from seed, including lawns, and bulbs Pierson, D. et al. Mineral stabilization of soil carbon is suppressed by live roots, outweighing influences from litter quality or quantity. Biogeochemistry 154, 433–449 (2021). Shi W, Zhang Y, Chen S, Polle A, Rennenberg H, Luo Z-B (2019) Physiological and molecular mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation in nonmycorrhizal versus mycorrhizal plants. Plant, Cell Environ 42:1087–1103. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13471 Kaur H, Garg N (2018) Recent perspectives on cross talk between cadmium, zinc, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plants. J Plant Growth Regul 37:680–693. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9750-2

Advice on buying mycorrhizal fungi

In this study, the researchers collected 3,050 data sets on forest biomass, soil carbon and environmental factors under global change. A total of 12 forest carbon-related variables were analyzed and summarized to clarify the impact of global change drivers (nitrogen deposition, elevated CO 2, and warming) on plant biomass and soil carbon accumulation in forest ecosystems. González-Guerrero M, Azcón-Aguilar C, Mooney M, Valderas A, MacDiarmid CW, Eide DJ, Ferrol N (2005) Characterization of a Glomus intraradices gene encoding a putative Zn transporter of the cation diffusion facilitator family. Fungal Genet Biol 42:130–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2004.10.007 Mycorrhizas are not a cause for concern. The fine fungal strands that make up mycorrhizas associate with roots in two ways: Ectomycorrhiza (mycorrhiza living on the outside of a plant): Pellitier, P. T. & Zak, D. R. Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the enzymatic liberation of nitrogen from soil organic matter: why evolutionary history matters. N. Phytol. 217, 68–73 (2018).

Increased survival rate of plants especially specimen and bare root plants and plants that are difficult to establish. (The extended root system nourishes the plant from very early on in its life)Peng, Y. F. & Yang, Y. H. Allometric biomass partitioning under nitrogen enrichment: evidence from manipulative experiments around the world. Sci. Rep. 6, 28918 (2016). Yang L, Wang J, Yang Y, Li S, Wang T, Oleksak P, Chrienova Z et al (2022a) Phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution: Hotspots and future prospects. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 234:113403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113403 Peng, Y. F., Guo, D. L. & Yang, Y. H. Global patterns of root dynamics under nitrogen enrichment. Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. 26, 102–114 (2017). Lin Y-F, Hassan Z, Talukdar S, Schat H, Aarts MGM (2016) Expression of the ZNT1 zinc transporter from the metal hyperaccumulator noccaea caerulescens confers enhanced zinc and cadmium tolerance and accumulation to arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS ONE 11:e0149750. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149750

Takahashi R, Ishimaru Y, Senoura T, Shimo H, Ishikawa S, Arao T, Nakanishi H, Nishizawa NK (2011b) The OsNRAMP1 iron transporter is involved in Cd accumulation in rice. J Exp Bot 62:4843–4850. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/err136 Carrara, J. E. et al. Differences in microbial community response to nitrogen fertilization result in unique enzyme shifts between arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal-dominated soils. Glob. Change Biol. 27, 2049–2060 (2021). Rillig MC, Mummey DL (2006) Mycorrhizas and soil structure. New Phytol 171:41–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01750.xMycorrhizal fungi are a remarkable group of organisms that have been benefiting plants for at least 500 million years. At the dawn of time when plants were just beginning to colonise our planet mycorrhizal fungi were there living in a symbiotic relationship with plants enabling them to extract nutrients and hold onto water in very difficult soil conditions. In effect, the fungus provides a secondary root system, a system that is considerably more efficient and extensive than the plants own root system. Avoid using mycorrhizal fungi alone on poor or over-cultivated soil. Improve the overall soil condition first by applying plenty of organic matter, such as garden compost, well-rotted manure, composted chipped bark or garden shreddings, or leaf mould Zahir F, Rizwi SJ, Haq SK, Khan RH (2005) Low dose mercury toxicity and human health. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 20:351–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2005.03.007 These fungi are living organisms and will live with the plant, sourcing a continued nutrient supply for its entire lifetime – a truly sustainable plant nutrition solution. In exchange the plant provides carbon and sugars to the fungi. Not unsurprisingly, 90% of all land plants employ this relationship to enhance their own root system’s capacity to deliver nutrients. Why do I need Rootgrow

Wang J, Anderson CWN, Xing Y, Fan Y, Xia J, Shaheen SM, Rinklebe J, Feng X (2018) Thiosulphate-induced phytoextraction of mercury in Brassica juncea: spectroscopic investigations to define a mechanism for Hg uptake. Environ Pollut 242:986–993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.065 Martin FM, Uroz S, Barker DG (2017) Ancestral alliances: Plant mutualistic symbioses with fungi and bacteria. Science 356:eaad4501. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad4501 Tamayo E, Gómez-Gallego T, Azcón-Aguilar C, Ferrol N (2014) Genome-wide analysis of copper, iron and zinc transporters in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Front Plant Sci 5:547. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00547 Chen, J. et al. Differential responses of carbon-degrading enzyme activities to warming: implications for soil respiration. Glob. Change Biol. 24, 4816–4826 (2018). Meharg AA, Hartley-Whitaker J (2002) Arsenic uptake and metabolism in arsenic resistant and nonresistant plant species. New Phytol 154:29–43. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00363.xEgger, M. et al. Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. Br. Med. J. 315, 629–634 (1997). When planting bulbs or seeds, sprinkle a little of the mycorrhizal fungi into the soil or planting hole first To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key plant nutrients usually derived from soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed from the air. Other vital soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Gardeners can add nutrients by applying fertilisers (either artificial or naturally derived) to boost plant growth and improve flowering and fruiting. nutrients gathered from the soil by the fungal strands. The mycorrhizas greatly increase the absorptive area of a plant, acting as extensions to the root system.