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Comparative effects of the soil microflora on ectomycorrhizal inoculation of conifer seedlings
Author(s) -
Mcafee B. J.,
Fortin J. A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1988.tb04185.x
Subject(s) - pisolithus , mycorrhiza , biology , inoculation , botany , seedling , horticulture , larch , dry weight , symbiosis , bacteria , genetics
SUMMARY The effects of vegetative inoculum of Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton, Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch and Hebeloma cylindrosporum (Bull. & St. Am.) Quél. and addition of fine soil suspensions to jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb) and American larch [ Larix larcina (DuRoi) K. Koch] seedlings were studied under controlled environmental conditions. Mixed inocula, composed of either (1) equal proportions of the above three mycobionts or (2) equal proportions of Laccaria and Hebeloma were also tested. Larch seedlings inoculated with L. bicolor formed significantly more mycorrhizas than did any of the other inoculum treatments. Untreated pine seedlings showed similar mycorrhiza development with L. bicolor and the two mixed inocula. On pine seedlings that received a fine soil suspension L. bicolor formed significantly more mycorrhizas than did other inocula. The addition of fine soil suspensions, containing biological propagules less than 45 μm, enhanced mycorrhiza formation and influenced shoot length and dry weight with some of the tested inocula, depending on the tree species. The competitive ability of the mycobionts in mixed inoculum was also affected by the soil suspensions. That P. tinctorius was not competitive in the mixed inoculum was attributed to its slower growth rate under the experimental conditions.