Abstract

Seeds of Maackia amurensis Rupr. & Maxim. were obtained from 38 sources, and 2,393 seedlings were examined for variation in plant growth and development. Mean stem length and number of leaves per plant after 21 months ranged from 10 to 40 cm (4 to 16 in) and from 6 to 13, respectively, among seedlings from different sources. The mean product of length and width of a representative leaflet was 362 to 1510 mm² (0.6 to 2.3 in²) among sources. A subset of seven seed sources was used to determine how seedling growth, root nodulation, and N content of shoots are influenced by applied N and inoculation with Bradyrhizobium. Plants from the seven sources varied in nodule dry mass and shoot N. Mean stem length, laminar area, and dry mass of plants provided N and grown in uninoculated medium were higher than those of plants not provided N regardless of inoculation. When N was not provided, inoculation increased N in shoots but did not affect growth. Nodule dry mass of plants in inoculated medium was correlated positively with surface area of lamina. Variation among seedlings provides a basis for selecting genotypes that produce high nodule mass and grow rapidly.