A leading authority on mycorrhiza and its dramatic effects on the growth of turf grass and plant life around the world, Dr. Mike Amaranthus is the founder of Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc.

In an exclusive partnership with Pennington Seed, Dr. Amaranthus has played an important role in the development of MYCO Advantage™ – the beneficial seed coating technology found only in Pennington Smart Seed™. The groundbreaking Smart Seed™ with MYCO Advantage™ produces a healthier, thicker lawn that requires up to 30% less water.

An expert in soil biology, Amaranthus has more than 30 years of research experience as a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oregon State University, and Mycorrhizal Applications Inc. International research efforts have taken him to jungles and testing grounds from one end of the earth to the other, including Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, and Thailand.

His innovative work has caught the attention of broadcasts and publications distributed across the globe, including The New York Times, Newsweek, Smithsonian Magazine, Worldwatch, National Geographic, PBS, the History Channel, and Wine Spectator, among a host of other publications. The doctor’s own published papers have appeared in highly regarded national and international books that have chronicled his impressive findings.

In 1998, Dr. Amaranthus received the United States Department of Agriculture’s highest award for scientific achievement. And his company, Mycorrhizal Applications Inc., is the world’s largest producer of mycorrhizal solutions.

In recognition of his outstanding mycorrhiza research, Amaranthus has several mushroom species named in his honor, including Mycoamaranthus, Amogaster, and Gastrosuillus amaranthii.

Dr. Mike Amaranthus and his family live in Grants Pass, Oregon.