EX VITRO ECTOMYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION ENHANCES SURVIVAL AND EARLY GROWTH OF MICROPROPAGATED CLONES OF POPULUS × CANESCENS IN METAL-CONTAMINATED SOILS

Abstract

Hybrid poplar Populus × Canescens (P. alba L. × P. tremula L.) was established in vitro from apical and lateral buds. The Murashide and Skoog medium was used for multiplication of shoots. Selected ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi (Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Paxillus involutus) were used for biotization of rooted poplar plantlets at the stage of ex vitro acclimatization. After six weeks of acclimatization the poplar plants were potted in soils contaminated with Cu and/or Pb. ECM inoculation increased the survival of micropropagated P. x canescens plantlets during ex vitro acclimatization. After four months of culture in soils contaminated with Cu and Pb the poplar plants inoculated with ECM fungi had higher above- and below-ground biomass than the un-inoculated control plants.