Survival and growth of pines with specific ectomycorrhizae after 3 years on a highly eroded site

Abstract

Container-grown pine seedlings inoculated with vegetative mycelium of Pisolithus tinctorius, Laccaria laccata, or P. tinctorius plus the saprophytic Lepiota lutea were outplanted on a highly eroded reforestation site in Mexico. After 3 years, seedlings initially colonized by P. tinctorius plus L. lutea had the highest survival. Seedlings with P. tinctorius mycorrhizae (either alone or with L. lutea) had greater height, stem diameter, and seedling volume than both seedlings with L. laccata mycorrhizae and noninoculated seedlings. The average volume of seedlings with P. tinctorius or with P. tinctorius plus L. lutea was 538 and 423%, respectively, of that of noninoculated seedlings. The potential benefit of utilizing P. tinctorius inoculum in reforestation programs in Mexico is discussed.