TITLE:
Growth of Shorea contorta Vid. Inoculated with Eucalypt Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Nursery and in a Logged-Over Dipterocarp Forest in Surigao, Philippines
AUTHORS:
Nelly S. Aggangan, Mitzi Ann T. Pollisco, Jeremias B. Bruzon, Joan S. Gilbero
KEYWORDS:
Ectomycorrhiza; Pisolithus; Scleroderma; White Lauan; Rooted Cuttings
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.4,
April
23,
2013
ABSTRACT:
This study was
conducted to determine the compatibility of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi
associated with eucalypts on dipterocarps. Two nodal cuttings of Shorea
contorta (Vid.) were rooted in a non-mist system for two months, and later
inoculated with vegetative mycelia of three strains of Pisolithus collected under eucalypts and a strain of Scleroderma from dipterocarps. Inoculated rooted
cuttings were planted in irradiated potting mix and raised in the nursery for
five months. Root colonization prior to outplanting ranged from 31% to 38% and
ECM fungi did not colonize the uninoculated ones. The cuttings
were outplanted in a logged-over dipterocarp forest in Bislig, Surigao Sur
following a Randomized Complete Block Design with four blocks; each
block was planted with 50 seedlings. Two years after outplanting, Pisolithus strain from New Caledonia (H6394) promoted the highest height (46 cm) and diameter (0.48 cm) increment. Height was increased
by 17% and diameter by 7% relative to the uninoculated control. By contrast, Pisolithus strain from the Philippines (H615) gave the shortest (26 cm) height increment and smallest (0.42 cm)
diameter. Diameter growth of cuttings inoculated with Scleroderma D01 (from the Philippines) and a Pisolithus strain from Australia (H445)
was bigger (0.47 cm) than
the uninoculated treated cuttings (0.45 cm).
In terms of survival, the uninoculated cuttings gave the highest (90%) percent
survival while the lowest (60%) was those inoculated with Pisolithus strain
from New Caledonia. It is possible that the indigenous ECM fungi infected
easily the roots of the uninoculated cuttings thus contributing to the high
survival rate (90%). During outplanting, fruit bodies of S. columnare were present in the field site. The results, however, show that ECM fungi were
able to colonize the roots and that some strains promoted the growth and
survival of S. contorta planted in a logged-over dipterocarp forest in
Bislig, Surigao, Philippines.