Importing plants: The effect of Trichoderma on root development
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  #1  
Old 04-22-2012, 07:45 AM
Lars Kurth Lars Kurth is offline
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Importing plants: The effect of Trichoderma on root development
Default Importing plants: The effect of Trichoderma on root development

Exactly 5 weeks ago, I got a batch of Angraecoid plants from Malala (Madagascar) arranged by a friend who ordered a batch of plants for a number of people (all legal of course, with all the paperwork). I had done this in the past, and often it took a long time for plants to develop new roots and grow on properly. Sometimes 3-4 month and about 1/3 of the plants would not make it. If the plant did not grow on before winter, it would likely not see the next spring.

Just before the plants arrived, I came across an article about Trichoderma which claimed that a) it improved root development, b) it makes plants more resiliant to diseases. I managed to buy a Trichoderma/clay powder to be used for watering and decided to try it.

As usual, the imported plants had hardly any life roots. No roots that were growing.

Steps I normally perform on imported plants
  1. I prepared a sugar or mollassis solution and dipped the green parts of the plants into it
  2. After two days, showered the plants heavily to get all the sugar off (otherwise there will be problems later)
  3. Repot or mount
  4. If the plants are in really bad shape, I spray with AgroBest Envy (an anti transpirant, which can reduces moisture loss in plants). In this case I did.

What I did additionally
  1. I then prepared a Trichoderma solution (using Trichoderma/clay poweder)
  2. I soaked the plants in the solution on March 25th

I watered about every 4-5 days. In effect this meant that the mounted plants got fairly dry: the moss they are in would be bone dry on the surface after 1-2 days (but there would still be some moisture).

Then I forgot about the plants: as expected, they did not produce new growth and there was no visible sign of new root development. I also didn't apply the second dose of Trichoderma 7-10 days later as outlined in the instructions.

Last week, my friend dropped me a line to see how my plants were doing. So I had a closer look: I was amazed to see that half of the plants had developed masses of new roots hidden in the moss. Mainly new roots coming from the base of the plant (see pics, taken after watering such that the roots are more easily visible). In some cases an inch of new roots grew in less than 4 weeks.

The other 50% may have developed roots too, but as they are mounted with spaghnum the root growth is not as visible. I also noticed that all plants are now starting to grow.

Of course this is not scientific, but I am amazed how well and quickly the roots are developing compared to the experience of past years (in particular with plants from Malala). Plants from that source at a minimum took 2-3 months to develop new roots, sometimes new roots would not develop until the next grwoing season or not at all (with the plant dying). Also comparing notes with my friend: her plants have not yet developed new roots.

Note that the roots have a different look to roots on other plants that I have grown on in the past: they have lots of white "hair" on them (in other words the roots are feeder roots).

I gave the plants another soak in Trichoderma solution this morning and I am about to try Trichoderma on the rest of my plants in the greenhouse.
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  #2  
Old 04-22-2012, 09:06 AM
tucker85 tucker85 is offline
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Very interesting. Thanks for posting this information. I’ve heard about beneficial fungi before but I’ve never heard about results first hand. There’s a commercial grower near me that also uses beneficial bacteria on his seedlings. From what I’ve read, beneficial fungi and bacteria are most effective on seedlings.
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Old 04-22-2012, 10:34 AM
Jayfar Jayfar is offline
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Hmm...

http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journa...rmicro797.html

Trichoderma

Last edited by Jayfar; 04-22-2012 at 10:37 AM..
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Old 04-22-2012, 12:27 PM
silken silken is offline
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Very interesting. My bare root purchases could always use a little help. From what I have read, this sounds like a long term benefit as well.
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Old 04-22-2012, 01:53 PM
gnathaniel gnathaniel is offline
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Fascinating, Lars, thank you for sharing! I look forward to hearing how the plants do into the future, but such a quick flush of new roots is certainly a great sign. I'll try your method next time I get bareroot plants or deflask seedlings.

--Nat
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Old 04-22-2012, 02:06 PM
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calvin_orchidL calvin_orchidL is offline
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Incredible - thanks for sharing. Looking forward to hearing more developments. I refrained from a malala order this year because of such dismal survival...but this gives us some hope! Hope to hear the progress of your plants as it continues, as well as how this works for you in the rest of the greenhouse. Is the source of your trichoderma commercial, or can it not be shared?

PS: We'd love to know what you ended up getting, if you care to share
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Last edited by calvin_orchidL; 04-22-2012 at 02:13 PM..
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Old 04-22-2012, 02:19 PM
silken silken is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL View Post
Is the source of your trichoderma commercial, or can it not be shared?

PS: We'd love to know what you ended up getting, if you care to share
I found a Canadain source for a product that has Trichoderma in it: BioWorks Inc. | RootShield Granules - Canada

Now hopefully I can get some as I am quite eager to try it!
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Old 04-22-2012, 02:50 PM
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camille1585 camille1585 is offline
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Neat to see results on orchids! A colleague at work was using it as one of her study organisms (interactions between plants and beneficial soil dwelling organisms, and how that affects interactions with insects). I would have gotten some Trichoderma inoculum from her, but her contract ended last year.

Where did you buy yours Lars? I'd love to try it too! Apparently seaweed extract works very too at promoting root growth.
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Old 04-22-2012, 03:34 PM
orchidsarefun orchidsarefun is offline
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Importing plants: The effect of Trichoderma on root development Male
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you have me in a quandary. I am getting some newly deflasked seedlings from China and have purchased some Physan20 to spray them with. I assume that this product would kill trichoderma ? Now I don't know whether I should just use trichoderma as in one of the links it mentions that trichoderma feeds on other fungus (and I have plenty, it grows on the sphag of my repotted plants, and then disappears) And I am not getting that many to be able to split them and do a 50/50 test.

Last edited by orchidsarefun; 04-22-2012 at 03:36 PM..
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Old 04-22-2012, 04:35 PM
Tetouan Tetouan is offline
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Very intersting!! Thanks for share.
looking forward for an update.
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