Arbuscular mycorrhizae on Tetraclinis articulata (Cupressaceae): development of mycorrhizal colonization and effect of fertilization and inoculation

Abstract

Seedlings of Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters (Cupressaceae) growing under nursery conditions were surveyed for mycorrhizal colonization over a period of time. They showed a typical vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, with percentages of infection ranging between 0% (1-month-old seedlings) to 72% (17-month-old seedlings), and a 3-phase pattern of mycorrhizal development. In addition, growth responses of T articulata in sterile soil were observed by inoculation with several mycorrhizal fungi: Glomus mosseae was the most effective in improving growth, and G fasciculatum was the most ineffective. This fungus was also tested at different levels of added P: maximum yield was obtained in mycorrhized plants at 60 mg kg-1 P lavel and no significant differences between mycorrhized and control plants were found at high fertilization rates. © 1993.