Assessing commercial and early-seral arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation to aid in restoring sagebrush steppe shrubs

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are drivers of plant communities as they influence competition by increasing plants’ root absorptive surface. As such, AMF could be an important tool for ecological restoration. However, a lack research using in sagebrush steppe implies need more assessments its efficacy. Here, we assessed the ability commercial inoculum to colonize and growth three native Artemisia spp. (sagebrush) shrubs exotic Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead). We expected increase colonization biomass production with addition inoculum. Before testing inoculum, viability was examined Trifolium incarnatum (crimson clover) autoclaved soil. Next, factorial greenhouse experiment conducted evaluate target species when grown live or field soil from disturbed (early seral) site. Inoculation resulted average 24.82% ± 4.86% T. but failed any had little no on All were colonized soil, averaged 889 mg, 530 323 1 852 respectively; however, all greater soils (1 620 706 371 3 902 respectively). Our results reveal differential effects highlight assess efficacy before application.