Effectiveness of Commercial Mycorrhizal Inoculants on the Growth of Liquidambar styraciflua in Plant Nursery Conditions
The effectiveness of several commercial mycorrhizal inoculants on the growth and development of Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) was evaluated. Plants were grown in a nursery potting mix and were inoculated with the mycorrhizal products at the manufacturer's recommended rate. The growth response of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants was analyzed at two harvests (8 and 14 weeks after transplanting). Significant differences were found in the growth of L. styraciflua to mycorrhizal colonization with the different commercial products. Fourteen weeks after transplanting, inoculation with products 1 (Earth Roots), 2 (MycoApply endo), and 3 (VAM 80) enhanced the growth of sweetgum relative to the nonmycorrhizal plants. However, plants inoculated with products 2 and 3 had greater leaf area, dry mass and relative growth rates than those inoculated with product 1. Plants of L. styraciflua inoculated with product 4 were less responsive to mycorrhizal colonization and only increased their leaf area relative to the non-inoculated controls. Testing both the infectivity and effectiveness of mycorrhizal fungi is recommended for the successful application of mycorrhizal technology in horticultural practices.Abstract
Contributor Notes
This project was funded in part by The Horticultural Research Institute, 1000 Vermont St., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005. We greatly appreciate the participation of Sheila Kee, Diane Green, Griselda Hernandez, Ramiro Rodriguez, Salvador Zamarripa, and Sinfarosa Tampa. We are also grateful to Steve Barlow and Tom Zink for allowing us to use the microscope and laboratory facilities at San Diego State University and to the commercial mycorrhizal inoculum producers who kindly donated their products. Special thanks to Daniel Evans for assistance with digital picture files.
2Plant Ecologist. Tree of Life Nursery. P.O. Box 635, San Juan Capistrano CA, 92693. Corresponding author. <lcorkidi@aol.com>
3Natural Resources Cooperative Extension Specialist. Professor of Plant Ecology. University of California-Riverside.
4Assistant Environmental Horticulture Extension Specialist. University of California-Riverside.
5Professor of Plant Pathology, Director of the Center for Conservation Biology. University of California-Riverside.
6Environmental Horticulture Advisor. University of California Cooperative Extension, Ventura County, 669 County Square Dr. 100, Ventura CA, 93003.
7Tree of Life Nursery, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693.