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Abstract
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings are periodically challenged by biotic and abiotic stresses. The ability of endophytes to colonize the interior of plants could confer benefits to host plants that may play an important role in plant adaptation to environmental changes. In this greenhouse study, nursery-grown Douglas-fir seedlings were inoculated with diazotrophic endophytes previously isolated from poplar and willow trees and grown for fifteen months in nutrient-poor conditions. Inoculated seedlings had significant increases in biomass (48%), root length (13%) and shoot height (16%) compared to the control seedlings. Characterization of these endophytes for symbiotic traits in addition to nitrogen fixation revealed that they can also solubilize phosphate and produce siderophores. Colonization was observed through fluorescent microscopy in seedlings inoculated with gfp- and mkate-tagged strains. Inoculation with beneficial endophytes could prove to be valuable for increasing the production of planting stocks in forest nurseries.
Highlights
Millions of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings are grown in nurseries for reforestation purposes in North America, Europe and elsewhere [1]
The endophyte consortia treatment was prepared by mixing equal concentrations of each inoculation suspension as determined by measuring the optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of the individual strains and adjusting to a final OD600 of 0.1
To assess other potential mechanisms in addition to N fixation for the improved growth of the inoculated plants, we investigated the potential of phosphate solubilization by the endophytes
Summary
Millions of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings are grown in nurseries for reforestation purposes in North America, Europe and elsewhere [1]. Environmental disturbances and stresses contribute to seedling failure when transplanted in the field, and in order to maximize production, nurseries apply intensive cultural practices, fertilization being one of the most common [1,2]. An inexpensive and environmentally-benign alternative for enhancing the productivity of newly-established forest plantations involves nursery inoculation of seedlings with plant growth-promoting microorganisms In forestry, this has traditionally been restricted to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi [3,4]; it is reported that in many cases, mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in low to no measurable benefit in outplanting success. Root-associated bacteria have been shown to stimulate tree seedling growth in addition to improving mycorrhizal colonization and may be valuable in current reforestation efforts [5,6]
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