Mycorrhizal fungi for enhancing turfgrass drought and salinity tolerance
Explore the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance drought and salinity tolerance in bermudagrass, offering sustainable lawn management solutions. This research, validated at TRL 9, leverages lab-grade fungal inoculants to improve turfgrass resilience under suboptimal conditions.
Overview
This research explores the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance the drought and salinity tolerance of bermudagrass, a commonly used turfgrass. By leveraging lab-grade fungal inoculants, the project aims to improve turfgrass quality and resilience when managed under suboptimal conditions, such as those with limited water and nutrient supply. The goal is to provide scientific evidence that supports the development of microbial-based solutions for sustainable lawn management.
Technical specifications
- Study Design: Conducted in a climate-controlled greenhouse using a factorial design.
- Treatment Variants: Includes three lab-grade mycorrhizal fungal cultures, applied individually or in combination, alongside a commercial reference product.
- Experimental Setup: 36 lysimeters used to establish bermudagrass, with treatments applied under suboptimal irrigation using saline and sodic water.
- Assessment Criteria: Turf quality, nutrient status through soil and grass clipping samples, and root mycorrhizal colonization.
Technology readiness level
This research has reached Technology Readiness Level 9, indicating full maturity and validation through rigorous experimentation and analysis in a controlled setting. The study's results provide a strong basis for the development and application of microbial inoculants in real-world turfgrass management scenarios.
About Texas A&M University, College Station
Texas A&M University in College Station is a comprehensive public research university and the flagship of The Texas A&M University System, combining broad academic strengths with a strong applied‑research culture. Industry collaborates on the Texas A&M‑RELLIS campus—an integrated education, research and testing environment that supports large‑scale experimentation and proving grounds—and through the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s facilities in Bryan‑College Station. A statewide extension network connects university expertise to companies and communities across all Texas counties, enabling rapid piloting and deployment. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA and DoD, alongside state and industry sponsorship. Texas A&M Innovation provides IP management, licensing and commercialization pathways across the system.
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