International Workshop of the African Network on Mycorrhiza (AFRINOM 1): advancing plant–microbe interactions in crop nutrition, integration of mycorrhiza into agroecosystems

Abstract

The African Network on Mycorrhiza (AFRINOM, http:// senegal.ird.fr/afrinom) was created following an international workshop on “Mycorrhiza: a biological tool for sustainable development in Africa,” held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2011 (Bâ et al. Mycorrhiza 2011). The general objectives of AFRINOM are to strengthen research, encourage cooperation, and promote exchange of information on mycorrhiza in Africa. The network, which consists of 135 members from 31 countries, encourages the development of joint research activities between researchers in Africa and Europe, America, Oceania, and Asia. It also gathers data and published information on mycorrhiza in Africa and provides information about laboratories working on mycorrhiza in Africa and a database on cultures of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from Africa and abroad. The International Workshop of AFRINOM 1 on “Advancing plant–microbe interactions in crop nutrition, integration of mycorrhiza into agroecosystems” was organized in Nairobi, Kenya, October 22–26, 2012, as part of the ISFMAfrica 2012 conference on “Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa: from microbes to markets.” Thirty-one participants from 13 countries attended the workshop, which included oral presentations, poster sessions, and excursion. Abstract of all talks and posters can be found on the AFRINOM website. The workshop objectives were to analyze innovative mycorrhizal interventions (e.g., production of mycorrhizal inoculants) and their impact in land management strategies benefiting smallscale agriculture in Africa. The contents addressed included the following: integration of mycorrhiza into agrosystems, optimization of mycorrhizal interventions and adaptation, mycorrhiza in ecosystems management, alternative interventions and bioprospecting tools, and strain selection and delivery. In the plenary session, Prof. Joanna Dames (South Africa) introduced challenges and future prospects of mycorrhizal agrotechnology for Africa and raised a fundamental question: why have we not embraced mycorrhizal technology and adopted it as standard agricultural practice in Africa? In her talk, she covered the many constraints linked to production of mycorrhizal inoculants, i.e., mass production, formulation, quality control, maintenance of culture collections, mycorrhizal fungal species/plant host matching, persistence among native strains, cost of the product for small-scale farmers, and farmer perception. In a session on integration ofmycorrhiza into agroecosystems, H. Dupre de Boulois (Belgium) presented the potentials and advantages of monoxenic AM fungal cultures, and concluded that present knowledge is inadequate to proposemass production of mycorrhizal inoculants by this method. Amadou Bâ (Senegal) presented results on the domestication of different provenances J. M. Jefwa CIAT, Nairobi, Kenya