GROWTH ANALYSIS OF MYCORRHIZAL AND NONMYCORRHIZAL BLACK OAK (QUERCUS VELUTINA LAM.) SEEDLINGS

Abstract

Inoculation of seedlings of black oak (Quercus velutina Lam.) with Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch and Suillus luteus (L. ex Fr.) S. F. Gray stimulated total growth and several individual growth components as indicated by classical growth analysis of a 19‐week experiment. Inoculation with Pisolithus was more effective in increasing growth than was inoculation with Suillus. Mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited generally higher leaf area ratios than did uninfected seedlings from the seventh week after planting. Unit leaf rates (Ē) and relative growth rates (R̄) were higher for two of five harvest intervals in mycorrhizal plants, with the greatest values of Ē and R̄ observed in seedlings inoculated with Pisolithus. The alteration of growth patterns associated with inoculation was observed from six to nine weeks before substantial infection was detected. In general, mycorrhizal infection was associated with a greater relative investment of dry weight in leaf area and in early stimulation of Ē and R̄, a situation that increased total growth greatly as a result of early gains in productive plant mass. Copyright © 1986, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved