Effectiveness of mycorrhizal inoculation in the nursery on root colonization, growth, and nutrient uptake of aspen and balsam poplar

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 381 - 391
• Main Authors: Quoreshi, A.M., Khasa, D.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agrobacterium; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Burkholderia cepacia; Co-inoculation; Economic plant physiology; Fertilization regime; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glomus intraradices; Hebeloma longicaudum; Inoculation; Laccaria bicolor; Mycorrhizas; Pisolithus tinctorius; Populus; Populus balsamifera; Populus tremuloides; Rhizopogon; Seedling growth and nutrition; Suillus; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Mycorrhizas; Populus tremuloides; Inoculation; Co-inoculation; Bacteria; Fertilization regime; Seedling growth and nutrition; Populus balsamifera; Populus tremuloides;Populus balsamifera;Fertilization regime;Inoculation;Co-inoculation;Mycorrhizas;Bacteria;Seedling growth and nutrition; Fertilization; Nutrition; Root; Growth; Plant juvenile growth stage; Nutrient uptake; Symbiont; Basidiomycota; Salicaceae; Fungi; Dicotyledones; Burkholderia cepacia; Angiospermae; Mycorrhiza; Hardwood forest tree; Spermatophyta; Colonization
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.10.010

Aspen and balsam poplar seedlings were inoculated with six species of ectomycorrhizal fungi (
Hebeloma longicaudum,
Laccaria bicolor,
Paxillus involutus,
Pisolithus tinctorius,
Rhizopogon vinicolor, and
Suillus tomentosus), one species of endomycorrhizal fungus (
Glomus intraradices), two species of bacteria (
Agrobacterium sp. and
Burkholderia cepacia), treated with a growth hormone (SR3), and co-inoculated with a combination of
Paxillus and
Burkholderia. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse under three different fertility regimes. Bacterial inoculation alone did not affect seedling growth and nutrition as observed when co-inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungus. The biomass and root collar diameter of aspen and balsam poplar were significantly increased when adequate mycorrhizas are formed and more prominent when co-inoculated with
P. involutus and
B. cepacia and grown at the 67% fertilizer level. Except for
R. vinicolor and
S. tomentosus, the other four species of ectomycorrhizal fungi and
G. intraradices formed symbiotic associations with both plant species. Both ectomycorrhizal and endomycorrhizal colonization were observed at all fertilizer levels and fertilizer applications did not affect the colonization rates. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were significantly improved in both aspen and balsam poplar compared with control only when co-inoculated with
P. involutus and
B. cepacia. However, plant net nitrogen uptake (content) increased significantly in all successful inoculation treatments and co-inoculated treatment when compared with control. These results hold promise for incorporation of inoculation of
Populus sp. with appropriate mycorrhizal fungi and selected bacteria into commercial nursery system to improve the establishment of
Populus in various sites.