Effects of topsoil storage during surface mining on the viability of VA mycorrhiza

Storing topsoil for 3 years was shown to reduce substantially the levels of viable inocula relative to levels in adjacent, undisturbed prairie soils. The detrimental effect of storage on VA mycorrhiza is associated with the loss of viability of mycorrhizal fragments occurring in the stored soil. Data are also presented supporting an interaction between infected root segments and roots of uninfected plants as a major means of spreading mycorrhiza in these soils.