Plant Growth Response ofPinus patulaandP. maximinoiSeedlings at Nursery to Three Types of Ectomycorrhizal Inocula

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the response in seedling growth, root colonization, and P content of seedlings ofPinus maximinoiandP. patulato the inoculation with three types of ectomycorrhizal inocula with three doses (17.5, 35, and 70 kg·m−3) in nursery. The first inoculum was soil from aPinusplantations that contained three ectomycorrhizal fungi (Amanita muscaria, Amanitasp.,andSuillus luteus); the second was a crude inoculum composed by root fragments ofPinusseedlings colonized byS. luteussuspended in a sterile matrix soil-sand; the third inoculum was a mixture of two ectomycorrhizal fungiA. muscariaandS. luteusproduced underin vitroconditions in the potato-dextrose-agar medium. The results showed that the inoculum producedin vitrowas most effective to promote plant growth and ectomycorrhizal colonization of roots in both plant species. Also, the effects on seedlings were significantly higher with the increase of the doses. InP. patulathere were not significant effects on foliar P content with type and dose of inocula, whereas inP. maximinoithere were interactive effects of both factors. In this case, better results were obtained with the inoculum produced underin vitroconditions and with the highest dose.