Competitive interactions of ectomycorrhizal mycobionts under field conditions

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Abstract
A rapid field method to evaluate the competitive performance of selected ectomycorrhizal isolates is presented. Ectomycorrhizal jack pine seedlings and noninoculated controls produced in growth pouches were outplanted in diverse stations 1 month after inoculation. Photographs taken prior to outplanting and at the time of excavation permitted comparative observations of mycorrhizal development along each lateral root of individual seedlings. Nonmycorrhizal control seedlings showed 0, 20, 20, and 76% mycorrhizal development at the sterilized denuded, unsterilized denuded, burned, and undisturbed jack pine stand stations, respectively. To evaluate the postplanting performance of each isolate tested, an index of colonization and an index of competition were established. Laccaria bicolor was the best colonizer at all stations except the undisturbed jack pine stand, where Rhizopogon rubescens was the best colonizer and also the most competitive. Pisolithus tinctorius was not competitive with the indigenous mycota at the burned or the undisturbed jack pine stand stations.