Inoculation of native woody plants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for phosphate mine land reclamation

David M. Sylvia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cuttings of Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Ell., Clethra alnifolia L., Cornus foemina Mill., Ilex glabra (L.) Gray, and Viburnum nudum L. were inoculated in a rooting bed with Glomus etunicatum (Nicol & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, or a mixed culture that consisted of several unidentified Glomus spp. After 7 weeks, a low level of root colonization (overall mean of 2%) was recorded for all plant species except V. nudum. These low percentages were sufficient to obtain well-colonized plants (overall mean of 57%) after rooted cuttings were transplanted to potting medium and grown in a shadehouse for 7 months. Inoculation had no effect on plant growth or survival after outplanting to a site that contained abundant clay aggregates and where controls became colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. Further studies are needed on sites differing in physical and chemical properties before reliable conclusions can be drawn concerning the use of VAM-fungus inoculation in phosphate minelands reclamation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)253-261
Number of pages9
JournalAgriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1990

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Agronomy and Crop Science

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