Selection of efficient VA mycorrhizal fungi for Casuarina equisetifolia—second screening

An investigation was carried out to screen and select efficient vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi for inoculating the forest tree species, Casuarina equisetifolia. The seedlings were inoculated with 10 different VAM fungi, obtained from various sources. Inoculated seedlings generally had greater plant height, stem girth, biomass and P content than uninoculated plants. They also had more mycorrhizal root colonization and spore numbers in root zone soil. C. equisetifolia seedlings responded best (in biomass) to inoculation with Glomus mosseae (Nicolson and Gerdemann) Gerdemann and Trappe, closely followed by Acaulospora laevis Gerdemann and Trappe and G. fasciculatum (Thaxter Sensu Gerdemann) Gerdemann and Trappe; all the three being statistically on par with each other.     

Effects of differences in forest floor and canopy vegetation on ectomycorrhizas ofBetula platyphylla var.japonica: A test using seedlings planted into soils taken from various sites

Effects of different forest floor vegetation types in secondary forest and of conversion to plantation on the quality and quantity of ectomycorrhizas are mostly unknown.Betula platyphylla var.japonica seedlings were used for bioassays of ectomycorrhizal fungal inoculum using soils from four 50-year-oldB. platyphylla var.japonica forests that had different types of forest floor vegetation: two with shrub types, one with aSasa type, and one with a grass type. Seedlings were also grown in soil from a nearby monospecific plantation ofChamaecyparis obtusa. Ectomycorrhizas formed 13 to 26% of root length of seedlings grown in soil from the five different sites. The maximum percentage of ectomycorrhizal formation was obtained from the grass-type forest. The dominant type of ectomycorrhiza in the two shrub-type forest soils was the same as that in theSasa-type forest soil. The dominant types of ectomycorrhizas in the grass-type forest soil and in theC. obtusa plantation soil were different from that in the two shrub-type forest soils and in theSasa-type forest soil. The results of this investigation suggest that the type of forest floor vegetation, accompanied with changes in thickness of the A₀ horizon, might affect the ectomycorrhizal fungi in the soils ofB. platyphylla var.japonica forests. Establishment of artificial plantations ofC. obtusa might change the ectomycorrhizal fungi that could associate withB. platyphylla var.japonica seedlings in soil.     

Effects of Lime and Wood Ash on Soil-solution Chemistry,Soil Chemistry and Nutritional Status of a Pine Stand in Northern Germany

Lime and wood ash may be useful to improve acidic forest soils. A field experiment was conducted in a pine stand on a sandy podzol at Fuhrberg, Germany, which involved an application of dolomitic lime (3 t ha^-1) with three replications or wood ash (4.8 t ha^-1) without replications on the forest floor. During the 2 yr study period, lime affected the soil solution composition only slightly. Ash had a marked effect on solution chemistry of the mineral soil at 10 cm and the pH values dropped temporarily from 3.7 to 3.1. Nineteen months after the treatments, exchangeable calcium in the organic layer and mineral soil increased by 222 (lime addition) or 411 kg ha^-1 (ash addition) and exchangeable magnesium increased by 101 (lime addition) or 39 kg ha^-1 (ash addition). After ash addition, no marked change in heavy metal content was found below 4 cm of the organic layer. In the ash treatment, the potassium concentration of the 1-yr-old pine needles increased from 5.6 to 5.9 g kg^-1. This study suggests that ash from untreated wood may be recommended for amelioration of forest soils.     

Cultured arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and native soil inocula improve seedling development of two pioneer trees in the Andean region

The tree species Alnus acuminata and Morella pubescens, native to South America, are candidates for soil quality improvement and afforestation of degraded areas and may serve as nurse trees for later inter-planting of other trees, including native crop trees. Both species not only form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), but also with N₂-fixing actinobacteria. Because tree seedlings inoculated with appropriate mycorrhizal fungi in the nursery resist transplanting stress better than non-mycorrhizal seedlings, we evaluated for A. acuminata and M. pubescens the potential of inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi for obtaining robust tree seedlings. For the first time, a laboratory-produced mixed AMF inoculum was tested in comparison with native soil from stands of both tree species, which contains AMF and EMF. Seedlings of both tree species reacted positively to both types of inocula and showed an increase in height, root collar diameter and above- and belowground biomass production, although mycorrhizal root colonization was rather low in M. pubescens. After 6 months, biomass was significantly higher for all mycorrhizal treatments when compared to control treatments, whereas aboveground biomass was approximately doubled for most treatments. To test whether mycorrhiza formation positively influences plant performance under reduced water supply the experiment was conducted under two irrigation regimes. There was no strong response to different levels of watering. Overall, application of native soil inoculum improved growth most. It contained sufficient AMF propagules but potentially also other soil microorganisms that synergistically enhance plant growth performance. However, the AMF inoculum pot-produced under controlled conditions was an efficient alternative for better management of A. acuminata and M. pubescens in the nursery, which in the future may be combined with defined EMF and Frankia inocula for improved management practices.     

Occurrence of dark septate endophytes in Nothofagus seedlings from Patagonia,Argentina

Temperate forests of southern Argentina and Chile cover a wide latitudinal and altitudinal range on both sides of the Andes, with Nothofagus species being one of the main tree species. Most of the larger remnants are protected within the limits of national parks and forest reserves. However, some of these are invaded by exotic conifers such as Pseudotsuga menziesii. In order to better understand the mycorrhizal condition within the Nothofagus–P. menziesii interaction, transects were established at six study sites along the effective recruitment area. Three treatments were established: Nothofagus forest without P. menziesii invasion (Forest), Nothofagus–P. menziesii matrix (Interface) and P. menziesii plantation lacking Nothofagus specimens (Plantation). A 2 kg mixed soil sample was taken at each treatment site and kept in brand-new plastic bags. A soil bioassay with Nothofagus seedlings acting as baits was set to evaluate the mycorrhizal inoculum potential and soil-fungi composition at each sampling treatment. Forty percent of the evaluated seedlings were found to be colonised by dark septate endophytes (DSE) fungi. Ectomycorrhizal colonisation percentage was significantly higher in plants growing in Forest soils (mean = 57.77%) when compared with Interface (mean = 42.53%) and Plantation (mean = 44.65%). The high incidence of DSE in young roots of Nothofagus seedlings in this study supports the hypothesis that DSE might be pioneering colonisers of young tree seedlings in secondary successional environments. For future interventions in the forest, either with productive or protective intentions, it should be taken into account the incidence of these fungi, which may have an important positive role in Nothofagus forest post-invasion recovery.     

板栗接种食用菌根真菌的菌根化效果及对幼苗促生效应的研究

[目的]通过板栗幼苗人工接种食用菌根菌固体菌剂,分析其对板栗幼苗生长指标和根系菌根化的效果,以验证大红菇(菌株编号2014-10)、红绒盖牛肝菌(菌株编号2014-14)和美味牛肝菌(菌株编号50559)这3种食用菌根菌固体菌剂作为板栗接种体的有效性及其促生效应,为进一步探索"板栗食用菌根菌新型经济林栽培模式"提供基础。[方法]在板栗播种时分别接种上述3种食用菌根菌固体菌剂,并设空白作对照。对当年生幼苗苗高、地径、根系干质量、侧根数、侧根总长、幼苗侵染率、吸收根侵染率等指标进行调查和分析,并制作菌根石蜡切片进行微观结构观察。[结果]表明:(1)上述3种食用菌根菌在人工接种下均能侵染板栗幼苗根系,平均幼苗菌根化率分别达95.8%、87.0%和96.7%,平均吸收根菌根化率分别达57%、53%和50%,达较高的侵染强度;经微观观察,板栗幼苗根系均形成典型的菌根结构——菌丝套和哈蒂氏网。(2)与对照幼苗相比,3个菌种处理幼苗的平均苗高分别提高32.5%、24.0%和22.7%,平均地径分别提高19.4%、14.1%和5.0%,差异显著(P0.05);平均根系干质量分别提高18.9%、25.3%和14.1%,平均侧根数分别提高16.0%、14.1%和12.1%,平均侧根总长分别提高26.8%、28.9%和44.8%,差异极显著(P0.01)。[结论](1)上述供试食用菌根菌均与板栗根系建立了共生关系,幼苗菌根化效果良好,吸收根菌根化强度高,形成了菌根的典型结构,即菌丝套和哈蒂氏网,验证了上述菌种固体菌剂的有效性,认为其可以作为板栗食用菌根菌栽培的接种体而用于生产实践,为探索"板栗食用菌根菌新型经济林栽培模式"提供了基础。(2)上述供试菌种接种后,对板栗幼苗各项主要生长指标均有不同程度的促进作用,说明上述食用菌根菌对板栗幼苗具有显著的促生效应。     

Effects of benomyl and captan on growth and mycorrhizal colonization of Sitka‐spruce (Picea sitchensis) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in Irish nursery soil

The effects of two fungicides (benomyl and captan ‐ at recommended doses and up to three soil drenches) on root development and mycorrhizal colonization of Sitka‐spruce (Picea sitchensis) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) were examined after 20 weeks growth, under environmentally controlled conditions, in soil from an Irish tree nursery. Although four mycorrhizal types have been found on Sitka‐spruce at the nursery, only one ectomycorrhizal type (Piceirhiza horti‐inflata) was identified on the short roots in this study. An inoculant (Vaminoc: MicroBio Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK) was used to inoculate ash and 20‐week‐old seedlings had a higher arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization in comparison with uninoculated controls. Multiple applications (2–3) of benomyl reduced the length of root and shoot and shoot dry mass of Sitka‐spruce, whereas in ash, it only depressed root length. Benomyl decreased the numbers of ectomycorrhizas of Sitka‐spruce and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Vaminoc‐inoculated ash. A single application of captan stimulated root length and ectomycorrhizal colonization of Sitka‐spruce and root dry mass in ash compared with uninoculated controls. Applications of captan reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Vaminoc‐inoculated ash to levels near to those of uninoculated controls. Of the two fungicides used, benomyl had the most deleterious effect on root length and mycorrhizal colonization of Sitka‐spruce and ash.     

Mycorrhizal and associated fungi of Sitka spruce in Irish forest mixed stands

Identity of mycorrhizas and isolation of symbionts and associated fungi from Sitka spruce growing in pure and mixed stands with either Japanese larch or Lodgepole pine are described and compared. More mycorrhizal types and sporocarps of the Agaricales were collected from mixed stands. Mycorrhizas of Lactarius rufus, Paxillus involutus and Suillus spp. were more prevalent on roots from mixed stands. The most common unidentified mycorrhizal type (type B) had features similar to synthesized mycorrhizas of two Basidiomycete isolates. Suillus grevillei and three un-identified types were associated specifically with Japanese larch. The main associating fungi were Oidiodendron sp. and Mycelium radicis atrovirens. The association of a “nurse” tree with Sitka spruce provides a more diverse mycorrhizal flora, the majority of which are shared between the tree species.     

Effect of post-planting inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp and mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of Brazilian rosewood,Dalbergia nigra Allem. ex Benth., in two tropical soils

Six months after planting, seedlings of the leguminous treeDalbergia nigra, known as Brazilian rosewood, wereinoculated with a selected Bradyrhizobium strainBHICB-DN 15,either alone or in combination with mycorrhizal fungi to determine their effecton the growth of D. nigra in Atlantic forest andeucalyptussoils. Height growth of D. nigra was similar in both soilsand six months after inoculation Bradyrhizobium did notaffect the D. nigra height growth, but it did improve drymass and especially in the nitrogen content of plants grown in eucalyptus soil.The success of the delayed inoculation with BHICB-DN 15 confirms its competitiveability vis-à-vis indigenous soil rhizobia. Co-inoculationof BHICB-DN 15 and mycorrhizal fungi did not increase plant dry weight,nitrogenand phosphorus content or mycorrhizal colonization. These results suggest thatthe BHICB-DN 15 strain had no synergistic relationship with the mycorrhizalfungi or that there was incompatibility between symbionts, in both soils.     

Effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glomus fasciculatum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. macrocarpum</Emphasis> on the growth and nutrient content of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cassia siamea</Emphasis> in a semi-arid Indian wasteland soil

The effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Glomus fasciculatum and G. macrocarpum on shoot and root dry weights and nutrient content of Cassia siamea in a semi-arid wasteland soil was evaluated. Under nursery conditions, mycorrhizal inoculation improved growth of seedlings. Root and shoot dry weights were higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal plants. The concentration of P, K, Cu, Zn and Na was significantly higher in AM inoculated seedlings than in non-inoculated seedlings. Mycorrhization led to decrease in alkalinity of the rhizosphere soil from pH 8.5 to 7.4. Under nursery conditions, the degree of mycorrhizal dependency increased with age of C. siamea seedling. On transplantation to the field, the survival rate of mycorrhizal seedlings (75%–90%) was higher than that of non-mycorrhizal seedlings (40%). Besides better survival rate, AM inoculation improved the growth performance of seedlings in terms of height and stem diameter. Among the two AM fungi used, the efficiency of Glomus macrocarpum was higher than that of G. fasciculatum under both nursery and field conditions.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrected page numbers.     

Growth response, phosphorus content and root colonization of Polylepis australis Bitt. seedlings inoculated with different soil types

Polylepis forests are one of the most endangered high mountain ecosystems of South America and reforestation with native Polylepis species has been highly recommended. Greenhouse bioassays were set up to determine the influence of three different soils on growth and phosphorous nutrition of Polylepis australis seedlings. Soils were collected from a grassland, a rare mature forest and a forest degraded due to repeated fires. We identified the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in the three soils and after 12 months we harvested the seedlings to evaluate root and shoot biomass, plant P content and root colonization by native AMF and dark septate endophytes (DSE). The soil inocula contained 26 AMF morphospecies. Grassland inoculum showed the highest AMF richness, and mature forest showed a different AMF community assembly from grassland and degraded forest inocula. Root biomass and root colonization were highest in seedlings inoculated with mature forest soil, meanwhile shoot biomass and plant P content were similar between all treatments. AMF colonization correlated negatively with DSE and root biomass was negatively correlated with DSE colonization, thus these fungal symbionts could be competing for resources. Our results indicate that AMF inoculum from the mature forest stand has the potential to improve P. australis performance, probably due to the dominance of Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae families. However, other soil microorganisms could be together with AMF in the natural inocula, affecting the growth response of P. australis seedlings. Future studies evaluating the effect of these inocula under field conditions should be carried out.     

丛枝菌根真菌对在含砷土壤中的云南石梓(Gmelina arborea)生长的影响(英文)

孟加拉东南部土壤中的砷含量很高,不仅威胁人的健康,而且对土壤也有破坏作用。云南石梓(Gmelina arborea)在孟加拉是个快速生长的树种,也是含砷土壤中的潜力树种。研究评价了含砷试验土中丛枝菌根真菌对云南石梓(Gmelina arborea)生长的影响。播种前,四种不同浓度的砷(10mg·kg-1、25mg·kg-1、50mg·kg-1和100mg·kg-1)被加入到试验土中。记录生长参数,如,植物的根、苗鲜重、干重、冠幅径、根长和苗高、根瘤菌和孢子菌群落。菌根植株较非菌根植株生长好。与其它含砷量高的土壤中植株的生长情况相比,在含砷量为10-mg·kg-1的土壤中,菌根植株和菌根生长效果最佳,菌根植株生物量最高。随着砷浓度的增加,种苗生长,根瘤菌和孢子菌群落均明显降低p0.05)。与非菌根植株比较,菌根植株高生长增加了40%,生物量增加了2.4倍。研究表明,根瘤菌接种可以减少有害土壤中的云南石梓(Gmelina arborea)的初生长的影响。     

In vitro effects of four ectomycorrhizal fungi, Boletus edulis, Rhizopogon roseolus, Laccaria laccata and Lactarius deliciosus on Fusarium damping off in Pinus nigra seedlings

Species of Fusarium cause damping off of forest seedlings resulting in considerable losses and oftentimes fungicides are used to control the disease. Such chemicals may be detrimental to the environment. Protection of forest seedlings against this disease must be focused on integrated management for in which biological control is one of the most important tools. Mycorrhizal fungi may provide protection against pathogen invasion of seedlings. In this study, the interactions between the mycorrhizal fungi Boletus edulis, Rhizopogon roseolus, Laccaria laccata and Lactarius deliciosus and damping off pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum and F. moniliforme) were investigated in vitro and mechanisms involved in the protection of damping off in P. nigra seedlings are also discussed. The effect of filtrates from mycorrhizal species on spore germination of F. oxysporum varied throughout the tests. At the end of the assay, the inhibitory effect only could be observed in the L.␣deliciosus treatment. None of the filtrates reduced spore germination in F. moniliforme. Finally, three of the four mycorrhizal species grown for 2 months in the substrate, L. laccata, L.␣deliciosus and B. edulis, increased the survival of Fusarium inoculated P.␣nigra seedlings.     

Economically profitable post fire restoration with black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) producing plantations

Cultivating black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) is highly profitable in sites suitable for its development. Land use history is an important factor when choosing suitable habitat, and lands with non-ectomycorrhizal host species are recommended when introducing T. melanosporum-inoculated seedlings in order to reduce competition from native, soil-borne ectomycorrhizal (ECM) inoculum. Nearly every year Mediterranean wildfires cause the loss of forested lands where soil and climatic characteristics are suitable for truffle cultivation. Introducing T. melanosporum-inoculated seedlings in these sites could promote reforestation with a native ECM fungus and, in addition, may provide economic incentives. We tested the viability of burnt forest lands for truffle cultivation by introducing T. melanosporum-inoculated Quercus ilex seedlings in burnt forest sites with and without resprouting forest species which act as repositories for native ECM fungi. We also evaluated the role of the ECM host plants, which resprout after a forest fire, in the maintenance and dynamic processes of the ECM fungal community. The study followed a factorial design with two levels: (1) T. melanosporum-inoculated and non-inoculated Q. ilex seedlings and (2) presence and absence of ECM host plants resprouting after the fire. We established 10 experimental plots with 360 holm oaks. After four and a half years, the truffle-inoculated holm oaks maintained 36?% of their root tips colonized with T. melanosporum, and 10?years after plantations, 26.2?% of the surviving inoculated holm oaks displayed a “truffle burn” area. A greater ECM morphotype richness was associated with seedlings planted in plots with the presence of ECM host plants, whereas the T. melanosporum mycorrhizal ratio was constant. These results suggest that reforestation with T. melanosporum-inoculated seedlings can be successful following forest fires and highlights the competitiveness of this fungus within the ECM community in these soils.     

Do pine plantations provide mycorrhizal inocula for seedlings establishment in grasslands from Patagonia,Argentina?

We investigated if Pinus ponderosa plantations in Patagonia are able to produce viable mycorrhizal inocula towards adjacent grasslands, which only harbor endomycorrhizal vegetation. We hypothesized that these inocula have the potential to contribute to the establishment of naturally disseminated seedlings. Also, we determined the main fungal taxa involved in this process. Seven plantations in the onset of their reproductive phase and located in the Patagonian native forest/steppe ecotone (Argentina) were selected. Soil samplings were obtained at nine points along a 450 m long, W-E transect established in each plantation. Soil bioassays were performed in a greenhouse, with P. ponderosa seedlings acting as hosts for mycorrhizal inocula present in soil samples, during 12 months. Mycorrhization percentage, morphotype richness and morphotype composition was determined through morphological evaluation. Viable ecto- and ectendomycorrhizal inocula were found disseminated outside plantations. The amount of mycorrhizal inoculum followed a decreasing function with distance to plantation edges. Mycorrhizal fungal genus Rhizopogon and “E-strain” mycorrhizal types appeared as pioneering taxa regarding seedlings colonization, being the most persistent and frequent symbionts found. Plantations, thus, facilitate the surrounding terrain for newcoming seedlings through the dispersion of mycorrhizal fungal inocula.     

Effects of nickel and copper on growth and mycorrhiza of Scots pine seedlings inoculated with Gremmeniella abietina

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings were planted in soil originating from two localities with different background levels of nickel and copper. In addition, some of the seedlings were exposed to additional nickel (20.5 mg Ni/l of soil) or copper (63.5 mg Cu/l of soil), or a combination of both Ni and Cu, via soil without direct shoot exposure during their second growing period. The seedlings were either irrigated with spring water (pH 6) or got only natural rain during the whole field experiment. All seedlings were inoculated with conidia of a shoot‐pathogen Gremmeniella abietina during their third growing season, and harvested the following spring. Lengths of shoots of different year‐classes were used as growth estimates. In roots, the proportion of fungal (assumedly mycorrhizal) biomass was estimated by measuring ergosterol concentration. Guajacol peroxidase activity was measured. Short roots were classified into two groups according to their condition and the composition of the mycorrhizal community was expressed as a proportion of morphotypes in the roots. The seedlings exposed to additional Ni had higher shoot growth than the seedlings in the other treatments. The mean Ni concentration in the roots of seedlings exposed to additional Ni was 79 p.p.m. and in other seedlings 16 p.p.m. Additional Ni also decreased the frequency of clearly senescent short roots and the proportion of the mycorrhizal morphotype with the thinnest mantle. These results indicate that the Ni exposure levels used in this experiment had some positive effects on the seedlings. The relative fungal biomass was about 6% lower (p = 0.0981) in the fine roots of seedlings treated with additional Cu. The mean Cu concentration in the roots of seedlings exposed to additional Cu was 256 p.p.m. and in other seedlings 29 p.p.m. Peroxidase activity, which was used as a general stress indicator in this study, was not affected by any of the treatments. The shoot growth and the relative biomass of fungi in the fine roots were positively correlated in all seedlings, and this correlation was stronger in seedlings exposed to additional Ni that were not irrigated compared with seedlings not exposed to additional Ni that were irrigated. The frequency of asymptomatic infections of G. abietina was positively correlated with the proportion of senescent short roots in the irrigated seedlings but not in not‐irrigated seedlings. The general condition of seedlings may be an important factor for infection by G. abietina when moisture is high enough for the fungi to infect seedlings by conidia.     

Characteristics of the Light Response in Seedlings and Saplings of Two Mid-Successional Species,Ash and Kalopanax,During the Early Stage of Regeneration in a Mature Forest

Abstract

Growth characteristics of ash (Fraxinus mandshuricavar. japonicd)and kalopanax (Kalopanax pictus), two mid-succcs-sional species, were monitored in relation to seasonal light in a deciduous broadleaf forest. During the growing, relative light intensity of the gap was 4 to 6 times higher than that under the closed canopy. Seedlings could be found on the mixed hardwood forest floor where relative light intensity was around greater than 7% of full sunlight. When saplings gap openings which had relative light intensities above 20%, they quickly developed lateral branches and increased their foliage volume. The light-photosynthesis curve of seedlings of both species showed a curve typical of the “shade leaf” type even though they grew under sunlight. In contrast, saplings of both species showed the “sun leaf” type of light-photosynthesis curve. This seedling to sapling shift from shade to sun adaptation was also found in other foliage characteristics. This study shows that species can efficiently adjust their leaf and branch characteristics to changing light environments from shade to openings in a forest.     

Application of mycorrhizal roots improves growth of tropical tree seedlings in the nursery: a step towards reforestation with native species in the Andes of Ecuador

Most tree species in tropical mountain rain forests are naturally associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Previous studies in southern Ecuador of 115 tree species revealed that only three species were not associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Seedlings of tropical tree species raised in the nursery may need to be associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to survive transplantation shock in higher numbers. Methods for establishing plantations with native tree species are not yet established for Ecuador. Thus, we investigated the feasibility of using mycorrhizal roots of seedlings of Inga acreana, Tabebuia chrysantha, Cedrela montana and Heliocarpus americanus that had trapped mycorrhizal fungi from forest humus in the nursery to inoculate C. montana and H. americanus with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Inoculation with either a mixture of mycorrhizal roots from the four species or only with mycorrhizal roots from the same tree species were compared with effects of moderate fertilization. Assessment of plant growth and mycorrhizal status of 6-months-old Cedrela montana and Heliocarpus americanus revealed an improvement in growth and diverse associated fungi through mycorrhizal root inoculation in comparison with moderate fertilization. Moderate fertilization did not suppress mycorrhization.     

Ectomycorrhizal inoculation of Douglas-fir transplanted container seedlings with commercially produced inoculum

Commercially produced vegetative inocula of Laccaria laccata and Hebeloma crustuliniforme successfully formed ectomycorrhizae with Douglas-fir transplanted container (plug+1) seedlings. After 4.5 months in containers, 83% and 90%, respectively, of short roots were mycorrhizal. L. laccata- or H. crustuliniforme-inoculated seedlings had significantly more mycorrhizal and total short roots than Pisolithus tinctorius-inoculated (4% mycorrhizal root tips) or uninoculated control seedlings. No significant differences were detected in seedling growth at the end of the container phase.After transplantation and growth in nursery beds for 17 months, mean new short root colonization of all seedlings was 80%. H. crustuliniforme persisted as a dominant mycorrhizal fungus on seedlings initially inoculated with this fungus. L. laccata-inoculated seedlings had 40% of their short roots colonized by L. laccata and another 40% by native fungi Rhizopogon and Thelephora spp. All mycorrhizae of control seedlings and those inoculated with P. tinctorius were formed by fungi native to the nusery beds. A significant fungal treatment effect was detected for shoot height only. Control seedlings were significantly taller than L. laccata-inoculated seedlings after transplanting.This article is part of senior author's thesis in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Forest Science at Oregon State University, Corvallis.     

Growth of Nursery-grown Bamboo Inoculated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in two Tropical Soil Typeswith and without Fertilizer Application

A nursery experiment was conducted to assess the effect of bioinoculants (Glomus aggregatum, Bacillus polymixa, Azospirillum brasilense) on seedling growth promotion of bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees.) in two soil types (alfisol, vertisol) with or without fertilizer application. Bamboo seedlings were grown in the presence or absence of bioinoculants either individually or in all combinations for 180 days in field soil under tropical nursery conditions. Shoot, rhizome and root length, dry masses, nutrient concentrations and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonized root lengths were determined at harvest. Under the experimental condition tested combined inoculation of AM fungi, PSB and A. brasilense resulted in maximum growth response both under fertilized and unfertilized conditions in both soil types. Fertilizer application enhanced the efficiencies of N, P and K uptake, whereas reduced their usage efficiencies. Though soil type did not affect microbial inoculation response, fertilizer application significantly affected plant response to microbial inoculation.