Abstract
Seedling mycorrhization acts as an efficient tool for improving the quality of seedlings. In this study, the effectiveness of Suillus granulatus, originating from Pinus heldreichii forests (Montenegro), to produce containerized ectomycorrhizal seedlings of autochthonous Pinus nigra in open field conditions was investigated. Spore (106, 107, 108) and vegetative (1:16, 1:8, 1:4) inoculation on ectomycorrhizal formation and seedling growth were tested. Spore and vegetative inoculums of autochthonous Pisolithus arhizus were used in the same trial as additional control treatments. The utilization of vegetative and spore inoculums of autochthonous S. granulatus has proven to be an effective method of obtaining containerized ectomycorrhizal P. nigra seedlings under open field conditions after 11 months. S. granulatus spore inoculations resulted in well developed ectomycorrhiza, decreasing the growth of the P. nigra seedlings in the first growing season. Mycelial inoculations resulted in slightly developed S. granulatus ectomycorrhiza, which increased the growth of the seedlings. Therefore, it would be feasible to use spore inocula of S. granulatus, with 106 spores per plant, to produce ectomycorrhizal P. nigra plants on a large scale. Controlled mycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings is not a common practice in Montenegrin and Serbian nurseries; as such, the obtained results will contribute to the enhancement of nursery production of Pinus nigra and other conifers. This also could be assumed as a starting point for many further efforts and investigations with autochthonous fungal and plant material in this region.
Highlights
Afforestation programs in Montenegro and Serbia, proclaimed as one of the priorities in forest policy and for sustainable forest management (Anonymous, 2008), are nowadays generally targeted toward unfavourable, mostly carbonate, dry, infertile soils (Knežević et al, 2011)
The objectives of the present study were i) to enable identification of fungi and molecular characterization of isolates used for inoculation of seedlings; ii) to determine the capability of S. granulatus to inoculate P. nigra seedlings under open field conditions; iii) to compare the effects of spore and mycelial inoculation; and iv) to compare the efficiency of different concentrations of both types of inoculums on ectomycorrhizal formation and seedling growth
Sporocarps of Suillus granulatus were collected in a Pinus heldreichii forest, above 1,500 m in altitude
Summary
Afforestation programs in Montenegro and Serbia, proclaimed as one of the priorities in forest policy and for sustainable forest management (Anonymous, 2008), are nowadays generally targeted toward unfavourable, mostly carbonate, dry, infertile soils (Knežević et al, 2011). Containerized Pinus nigra Arn. seedlings are commonly used for afforestation (Stilinović, 1990), and general consensus is that the significance of pines in such programs here will be greater in the future. The development of seedling production of pine species should be the primary goal of forestry science and commerce (Šijačić-Nikolić et al, 2010). Nursery practices are being focused on the production of seedlings for improving afforestation under the harsh environmental conditions. In Montenegrin and Serbian nurseries, controlled mycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings has yet to become common practice, and the fungi and fungal isolates from this region have not been examined previously as the material for mycorrhization
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