Effects of seed provenance and mycorrhizal fungi on early seedling growth in Piceamariana

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Abstract
The importance of provenance and fungal species effects on mycorrhiza formation in Piceamariana was determined. Seed was collected from two sites near Chapleau, Ontario. One provenance was collected from an upland site with sandy soil, the second from a lowland site with peaty soil. Seedlings were grown under aseptic conditions in test tubes. Two experiments were performed: in the first, seedlings were inoculated with Hebelomacylindrosporum, Laccarialaccata, or Paxillusinvolutus, whereas in the second, seedlings were inoculated with Laccariabicolor, Laccarialaccata, Laccariaproximo or noninoculated agar plugs. Counts of ectomycorrhiza and lateral root formation were analyzed for significance with two-way factorial ANOVAS. When inoculated with L. laccata, seedlings from the lowland seed source had significantly more mycorrhizal second order lateral roots than seedlings from the upland seed source. Lowland seedlings also had greater shoot dry weight and foliage length values. However, overall differences between provenances were small. In contrast, differences between fungal treatments were pronounced. Both L. laccata and L. bicolor initiated good ectomycorrhiza formation and increased seedling growth.
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