Effect of CuCO3 Container Wall Treatment and Mycorrhizae Fungi Inoculation of Growing Medium on Pine Seedling Growth and Root Development

Abstract

Coating the inside surfaces of containers with cupric carbonate (CuCO3) stopped lateral root growth of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) at the container wall. Subsequent higher order laterals proliferated and were similarly arrested. The CuCO3 treatment was compatible with inoculation of the growing medium with the mycorrhizae fungi Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch and Suillus granulatus (L. ex. Fr.) O. Kuntze. Combined inhibitor—inoculum treatments resulted in pine seedlings that were bigger, had more lateral roots, and greater mycorrhizal infection rates than untreated seedlings.