Effect of six ectomycorrhizal fungi inoculation on Betula alnoides clonal seedlings

Abstract:

[Background] Betula alnoides is a typical mycorrhizal nutritional tree species with both arbuscular mycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae, and mycorrhizal inoculation is an effective measure to grow its robust seedlings. [Objective] The objectives of this study are to reveal the effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) inoculation on seedling growth performance and nutrient contents of B. alnoides clones, and to screen suitable ectomycorrhizal fungi species as well as to provide scientific evidence for growing mycorrhizal seedlings of these species. [Methods] Seedling height, root collar diameter, biomass and nutrient contents of four B. alnoides clones, BY1, FB4, FB4+ and A5, were studied under inoculations of six ECMF including Cenococcum geophilum, Lactarius deliciosus, Scleroderma flavidum, Scleroderma polyrhizum, Suillus luteus and Xerocomus chrysenteron through a pot cultivation trial, and their differences were analyzed among different ECMF and clones. [Results] Seedling roots of four B. alnoides clones could be colonized by all six ECMF, in particular, S. polyrhizum and S. flavidum could remarkably promote growth and nutrient absorption of B. alnoides seedling after inoculation (P<0.05), inferring that these two ECMF demonstrated stronger affinity for clonal seedlings than other ECMF. There were not significant differences in mycorrhizal colonization rate among four clones, whereas the positive effects of ECMF on seedling growth of FB4 and BY1 were remarkably better than those of the other two clones. [Conclusion] It is recommended that S. polyrhizum and S. flavidum be applied in growing mycorrhizal seedling of B. alnoides.