Ectomycorrhizas of Scots Pine - Glen Affric
In 1994, Jane Sellers, a student in the Department Of Plant and Soil Science at Aberdeen University, carried out research on the mycorrhizal infection of naturally-regenerating and planted Scots pine seedlings in Glen Affric.
Here is the summary of Jane's work, from her dissertation document:
Abstract
At two sites in Glen Affric, Trees for Life and the Forestry Commission are working together to encourage the regeneration of native Scots pine within recently erected deer enclosures. The following study attempts to pinpoint some of the factors active in shaping the mycorrhizal community composition on the seedlings at each site and to see how the infection is related to the nitrogen content of the seedlings.
At the first site the seedlings are all the product of natural regeneration. Four types of mycorrhiza were distinguished, the distributions of two of which were significantly linked to the age of the seedlings and/or their distance from the nearest mature tree. The variations in the distributions of the mycorrhizal types may be a reflection of their different requirements and dispersal methods. Mycorrhizal types also vary in their ability to supply nutrients and this may explain why no clear or direct relationship between mycorrhizal infection level as a whole and the nitrogen content of the seedlings could be found.
At the second site, nursery-grown seedlings have been planted out over three successive years. Samples were examined of four, five and six year old seedlings and the mycorrhizal infection levels and mycorrhizal community composition were found to be significantly different from samples removed directly from the nursery. Nursery seedlings were found to have very high levels of infection and nitrogen levels were presumed to be optimum. Planted out seedlings had greatly reduced levels of both infection and nitrogen, particularly four year olds. Mycorrhizas present at the nursery were found in decreasing numbers on four, five and six year old seedlings, while other mycorrhizal types appeared in increasing numbers. These results suggest a failure of nursery mycorrhizas to persist after out-planting and reduced nitrogen levels accompany this. The mycorrhizal infection of the six year old seedlings is most different from that of nursery seedlings, presumably more characteristic of the natural infection to be found on native Scots pine in their natural surroundings.
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Last updated: Wednesday, 25-Aug-2010 15:59:47 BST