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Growth and phosphorus acquisition of karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor F. Muell.) seedlings inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi in relation to phosphorus supply
Author(s) -
BOUGHER N. L.,
GROVE T. S.,
MALAJCZUK N.
Publication year - 1990
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.1469-8137.1990.tb00376.x
Subject(s) - pisolithus , phosphorus , seedling , biology , mycorrhiza , inoculation , horticulture , botany , chemistry , symbiosis , organic chemistry , genetics , bacteria
S ummary Growth and phosphorus acquisition of pot‐grown seedlings of karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor F. Muell.) were examined following inoculation with four ectomycorrhizal fungi – Descolea maculata Bougher (two isolates), Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch, and Laccaria laccata (Scop, ex Fr.) Berk. & Br. Seedlings were raised in steam‐sterilized sand to which 13 rates of phosphorus (0.100 mg P kg −1 soil) were applied. All fungi except P. tinctorius produced a plant growth response. L. laccata produced the largest growth response. Responses were greatest at low rates of application of P to soil. There was no effect of the fungi on growth at levels of P application above 28 mg P kg −1 soil. A threshold effect (no increase in growth with increasing additions of P) characteristic of non‐mycorrhizal seedlings was eliminated by mycorrhizal infection. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased P content of plant tissues at sub‐optimal levels of P supply. The effect of mycorrhizas on seedling P status diminished with increasing soil P. One isolate of D. maculata often had greater rates of P accumulation and produced higher concentrations of P in plant tissues than L. laccata , but did not produce greater plant biomass. Frequency of infection for all fungi was low in soils with no additional P, and greatest with the addition of 2 mg P kg −1 soil ( L. laccata and D. maculata isolate A), or 4 mg P kg −1 soil ( D. maculata isolate B). Infection was reduced with increasing soil P, and not evident at 36 mg P kg −1 soil or higher levels of soil P. L. laccata had higher infection frequency and mycorrhizal root length at all levels of soil P than the D. maculata isolates. Two fungi produced basidiomes. This occurred at levels of soil P application ranging from 4 to 28 mg P kg −1 soil for D. maculata (isolate B), and at 4 to 28 mg P kg −1 soil for L. laccata.