Seasonal changes in mycorrhizal and fibrous-textured root biomass in 23- and 180-year-old Pacific silver fir stands in western Washington

Abstract
Seasonal changes in mycorrhizal and fibrous root biomass were examined in 23- and 180-year-old Abiesamabilis (Dougl.) Forbes stands. Both stands had similar patterns of change in mycorrhizal root biomass with the lowest level in the summer and highest in the fall. The fall peak of fine root biomass was the result of increased mycorrhizal and not fibrous root biomass. High levels of active mycorrhizal root biomass were measured during the winter months under a snowpack at soil temperatures of 1 °C. In both stands mycorrhizal roots comprised the largest proportion of the weight of fine roots during the winter (29%) and the lowest during the summer (2%). Except during early summer, the old stand had significantly higher levels of mycorrhizal root biomass in comparison to the young stand throughout the year.

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