Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (6): 1378-1385.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.06.019

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

EFFECTS OF INOCULATION OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ON THE SEEDLING GROWTH OF MONGOL SCOTCH PINE (PINUS SYLVESTRISVAR. MONGOLICA)

SONG Rui-Qing1,2,*(), LI Xi-Mei1, QI Jin-Yu3   

  1. 1Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
    2Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
    3Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110161, China
  • Received:2007-10-22 Accepted:2008-02-27 Online:2008-10-22 Published:2008-11-30
  • Contact: SONG Rui-Qing

Abstract:

Aims Ectomycorrhizal fungi promote growth of Mongol Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestrisvar. mongolica) seedlings. Our objective was to determine the effects of different inoculation methods, different combinations of fungal strains and different single strains on growth of Mongol Scotch pine seedlings.

Methods We screened combinations of different ectomycorrhizal fungus strains by dual culture method. Two-year-old seedlings were inoculated with different single strains of ectomycorrhizal fungi by soaking roots in the liquid culture of the ectomycorrhizal fungus. Three-year-old seedlings were inoculated with different single strains using lister method in the field. Seedlings inoculated by PD liquid culture medium served as a control. Three-year-old seedlings were inoculated by different combinations of ectomycorrhizal fungus strains using lister method in the field, and those inoculated by different single strains served as a control.

Important findings All single strain and their combinations promoted the growth of Mongol Scotch pine seedlings. Strains GT005 and 035 had the largest growth-promoting effects in all combinations and single strain. Compared with the control, average heights of 2-year-old seedlings inoculated by strains GT005 and 035 increased 54% and 42%, respectively, and average collar diameters increased 15% and 56%, respectively. Average heights of 3-year-old seedlings inoculated by strains GT005 and 035 increased 10% and 7%, respectively, and average collar diameters increased 10% and 9%, respectively. The growth-promoting effect of the inoculating method of root soaking is greater than that of the lister inoculating method. When mixed with another strain, the effect of the high-effect strain on growth of seedlings was reduced. The activity of hydrogen peroxidase and root activity are not correlated with seedling biomass.

Key words: seedlings of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, ectomycorrhizal fungi, inoculation method, single-inoculation, mixed-inoculation, growth-promoting effect