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Submitted to: Fourth International Conference on Mycorrhizae
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2003 Publication Date: 8/4/2003 Citation: RESPONSES OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY (VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM) TO INOCULATION WITH ERICOID MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI DEPENDS ON FERTILIZER TYPE, FUNGAL ISOLATE, AND PLANT GENOTYPES. Scagel, C.F. Interpretive Summary: Rooted tissue culture plantlets of seven highbush blueberry cultivars were inoculated with one of three different isolates of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and grown for two years with either inorganic or organic fertilizer. Root colonization of non-inoculated plants was low (<10%) regardless of fertilizer source. Colonization of inoculated plants ranged from 15-30% and was generally higher when plants were grown with organic fertilizer. Inoculation with any of the different fungi increased biomass of three cultivars, while the biomass responses of the remaining of the cultivars varied with fungal isolate. Our isolate of Pezizella ericae had the most influence on root biomass, while Oidiodendron griseum had the most influence on above ground biomass. Inoculated plants generally partitioned more biomass to the roots than above ground. When plants were grown with inorganic fertilizers, inoculation with all three fungal isolates had no influence on above ground biomass and slightly increased root biomass, while when grown with organic fertilizers inoculated plants had significantly higher stem, leaf, and root biomass compared to non-inoculated plants. Root colonization was significantly correlated with root biomass for three cultivars but showed no correlation to above ground biomass. Mineral composition of stems, leaves and roots were significantly altered by inoculation and changes in composition resulting from inoculation varied with fertilizer type, particularly for phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and nitrogen. Cultivars that were genetically close showed a high degree of variability in response to mycorrhizal fungi, while responses to fertilizer type were similar in closely related cultivars. Technical Abstract: Rooted tissue culture plantlets of seven highbush blueberry cultivars were inoculated with one of three different isolates of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and grown for two years with either inorganic or organic fertilizer. Root colonization of non-inoculated plants was low (<10%) regardless of fertilizer source. Colonization of inoculated plants ranged from 15-30% and was generally higher when plants were grown with organic fertilizer. Inoculation with any of the different fungi increased biomass of three cultivars, while the biomass responses of the remaining of the cultivars varied with fungal isolate. Our isolate of Pezizella ericae had the most influence on root biomass, while Oidiodendron griseum had the most influence on above ground biomass. Inoculated plants generally partitioned more biomass to the roots than above ground. When plants were grown with inorganic fertilizers, inoculation with all three fungal isolates had no influence on above ground biomass and slightly increased root biomass, while when grown with organic fertilizers inoculated plants had significantly higher stem, leaf, and root biomass compared to non-inoculated plants. Root colonization was significantly correlated with root biomass for three cultivars but showed no correlation to above ground biomass. Mineral composition of stems, leaves and roots were significantly altered by inoculation and changes in composition resulting from inoculation varied with fertilizer type, particularly for phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and nitrogen. Cultivars that were genetically close showed a high degree of variability in response to mycorrhizal fungi, while responses to fertilizer type were similar in closely related cultivars. |
