Mycorrhization of Pinus halepensis Mill. and Pinus pinaster Aiton seedlings in two commercial nurseries

Abstract

Two Mediterranean pine species (Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinaster) and seven fungi species (Pisolithus tinctorius, Lactarius deliciosus, L. sanguifluus, Suillus mediterranensis, S. collinitus, S. bellinii, and Rhizopogon roseolus) were selected for a mycorrhization study in two nurseries of SE Spain. Two types of inoculum (spore suspension and mycelium inoculum) were used on 3 700 pine seedlings. The aim of the study was to ascertain the influence of two different substrata (composted pine bark and fertilized-peat-vermiculite) on the mycorrhization rate and pine seedlings height. The results pointed out significantly differences between both substrata. In general, the best results were obtained with fertilized-peat-vermiculite-substratum although both the mycorrhization rate and seedlings height varied according to fungi species and the inoculum type used.