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Inoculation of cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon ) with the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoscyphus ericae increases nitrate influx
Author(s) -
Kosola Kevin R.,
Workmaster Beth Ann A.,
Spada Piero A.
Publication year - 2007
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.1469-8137.2007.02149.x
Subject(s) - mycorrhiza , ericaceae , vaccinium , botany , inoculation , mycelium , chemistry , biology , horticulture , symbiosis , bacteria , genetics
Summary• Despite the ubiquitous presence of ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi in cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon ), no prior studies have examined the effect of ERM colonization on influx kinetics. • Here, influx was measured in nonmycorrhizal and mycorrhizal cranberry in hydroponics. Mycorrhizal cranberry were inoculated with the ERM fungus Rhizoscyphus (syn. Hymenoscyphus ) ericae . influx by R. ericae in solution culture was also measured. • Rhizoscyphus ericaeinflux kinetics were linear when mycelium was exposed for 24 h to 3.8 m m , and saturable when pretreated with 3.8 m m , 50 µ m , or 50 µ m . Both low‐N pretreatments induced greater influx than either of the high‐N pretreatments. Nonmycorrhizal cranberry exhibited linear influx kinetics. By contrast, mycorrhizal cranberry had saturable influx kinetics, with c . eightfold greater influx than nonmycorrhizal cranberry at concentrations from 20 µ m to 2 m m . There was no influence of pretreatments on cranberry influx kinetics, regardless of mycorrhizal status. • Inoculation with R. ericae increased the capacity of cranberry to utilize ‐N. This finding is significant both for understanding the potential nutrient niche breadth of cranberry and for management of cultivated cranberry when irrigation water sources contain nitrate.