Effect of aluminum on the growth, anatomy, and nutrient content of ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal eastern white pine seedlings

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Effect of aluminum (Al) on the growth, anatomy, and nutrient content of eastern white pine (Pinusstrobus L.) was determined by growing newly germinated seedlings for 12 weeks in sand irrigated with nutrient solution (pH 3.8) containing 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/L of Al. To determine the influence of mycorrhizal infection on Al toxicity, half of the seedlings were inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithustinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch. Across Al concentrations, shoot growth (height, needle length, biomass) but not root growth (lateral root length, biomass) was significantly greater in ectomycorrhizal (ECT) than nonmycorrhizal (NM) seedlings. Aluminum significantly decreased shoot and root growth in ECT and NM seedlings but had less effect on growth in ECT seedlings. Foliar symptoms of Al toxicity (chlorosis, tip necrosis) were more pronounced in NM than in ECT seedlings. Cellular and ultrastructural injury to needles and root meristematic tissues was observed at lower concentrations of Al in NM seedlings than in ECT seedlings. Amelioration of Al toxicity by mycorrhizal colonization appeared to result from enhanced uptake of nutrients, especially P, rather than to reduced uptake of Al.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: