A database, covering in the first phase, a part of literature published from 2004 to the present, has been developed as a comprehensive reference source. There are over 700 references collected from national and international sources published during the period. Each reference in the database is assigned with one of the six categories of mycorrhiza, viz.,

• Ecto mycorrhiza
• Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza
• Orchid mycorrhiza
• Ericoid mycorrhiza
• Mycorrhiza (where category is not defined)
• Ectendo mycorrhiza.

Under each category, the references in the database have been assigned with one or more of the 15 broad subjects, such as

•Anatomy
•Biochemistry
•Biocides
•Biological interaction
•Ecology
•Genetics
•Mass production
•Methodology
•Physiology
•pollution
•Soil plant relations
•Systematics
•Anatomy, histology and ultrastructure
•Reviews and
•General.

Majority of these broad subjects is further divided into relevant sub subjects to make the data retrieval as much specific as possible. (For example sub subjects identified in the broad subject Soil Plant Relations include Nursery management, Soil moisture, Soil temperature, Plantations, Soil toxicity, Soil reaction, Burning, Disturbed land,Difficult sites, Dependency, Cropping effect, Tissue culture, Cuttings, Mycorrhizal efficiency, Fungal evaluation, Nutrition, Manuring, Soil texture, Photosynthesis, and Heavy Metals.

The aim of the database is, therefore, that the scientists working on mycorrhiza can obtain information at macro level on broad subjects under a particular category of mycorrhiza or on a specific topic of research on which they may formulate their projects. In addition, each record has been included with the name of the country, organisms and hosts relevant to mycorrhiza (with which the work has been done), and the year.

Two to five different combinations of search are made possible for specific information retrieval for the following two categories of groups:

(i) Scientists who are actively engaged in mycorrhiza research will be able to retrieve information on a specific aspect of mycorrhiza research. This will keep them not only abreast with latest research being done in that particular field but will also help them to avoid duplication and formulate projects for conducting original research. The database will also make the latest literature available to the Indian Scientists which other wise is usually beyond their reach due to high cost of both Indian and foreign journals.

(ii) Information professionals who are engaged in gathering information would be able to retrieve information on the status of mycorrhiza research on a particular host with a particular fungus in a country or worldwide in a particular year.