Abstract
Restoration of Alnus formosana (Burk.) Makino on landslide areas is important for agroforestry, forestry and soil erosion control in Taiwan. To ensure successful reforestation, A. formosana seedlings have to develop strong root system for nutrient and water acquisition as well as anchorage. Inoculating of A. formosana with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria Frankia may help mitigate drought and nutrient deficiencies on landslide sites. However, the effects of Frankia inoculation on growth, root architecture and mechanical properties of A. formosana seedlings are not well understood. In this research, a Frankia strain AF1 was isolated from actinorhizal nodules of local A. formosana and recognized as Frankia species, and its influences on growth performance and root mechanical properties of A. formosana seedlings were examined and analyzed. The results showed that the inoculated seedlings had significantly larger height and root biomass, longer root length, and more root tip number than that of the non-inoculated controls. Consistently, the inoculated seedlings had statistically significant higher uprooting resistance, root tensile resistance force and tensile strength than the controls. The results reveal that this native Frankia strain can promote growth performance, root system architecture, anchorage ability and root tensile strength of A. formosana. Key words: Actinorhiza, Betulaceae, inoculation, root morphology, tensile strength, uprooting resistance.
Highlights
Landslide hazards and their large negative impacts on human lives, economies and infrastructure have become a growing challenge globally (Dai et al, 2002)
The results reveal that this native Frankia strain can promote growth performance, root system architecture, anchorage ability and root tensile strength of A. formosana
Inoculation test showed that the isolated Frankia strain can induce nodule development in the roots of A. formosana (Figure 2)
Summary
Landslide hazards and their large negative impacts on human lives, economies and infrastructure have become a growing challenge globally (Dai et al, 2002). Due to the fragile geology, steep terrain and torrential rains brought by typhoons, landslides have become one of the most severe disasters in Taiwan. Vegetation landslide engineering has become increasingly important for landslide prevention and rehabilitation in recent years (Chen et al, 2014). Trees and forests can play an important role in preventing and rehabilitating landslides. Actinorhizal trees are pioneer species and can improve tree growth and survival on degraded landslide soils (Diagne et al, 2013).
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