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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334125
Title: Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Tectona grandis Linn.f. plantations and their effects on growth of micropropagated plantlets

Author
item CHAIYASEN, AMORNRAT - Chiang Mai University
item Douds, David
item GAVINLERTVATANA, PAIBOOLYA - Chiang Mai University
item LUMYONG, SAISAMORN - Chiang Mai University

Submitted to: New Forests
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2017
Publication Date: 4/12/2017
Citation: Chaiyasen, A., Douds, D.D., Gavinlertvatana, P., Lumyong, S. 2017. Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Tectona grandis Linn.f. plantations and their effects on growth of micropropagated plantlets. New Forests. doi: 10.1007/s11056-017-9584-6.

Interpretive Summary: Teak (Tectona grandis) is a valuable tree species of the tropics. Unregulated logging has caused degradation of natural forests, necessitating the intentional replanting of teak to establish plantations. One way plants are grown for this purpose is in sterile containers, for example in jars partially filled with nutrient medium. These “plantlets” may experience transplanting difficulties and fail to thrive in the forest. Their survival can be enhanced through the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungi in the plant production process. AM fungi produce a beneficial symbiosis with roots of teak plants, assisting them in nutrient uptake and disease and drought resistance. We first sampled existing teak forests for AM fungi and isolated and identified the most common species. These were then propagated to produce sufficient inoculum to use to colonize the young teak plantlets while still in the production process, prior to transplanting to the forest. Each AM fungus studied successfully colonized the teak plantlets whether in the sterile growth phase or in the later growth phase prior to transplanting. These results should enhance the successful reestablishment of this important tree species.

Technical Abstract: Regeneration of stands of valuable tropical hardwood tree species for sustainable harvest requires production of seedlings with high probabilities of survival. One way to enhance the vigor of plants for outplanting is pre-colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungi. We pursued the strategy that the most promising AM fungus candidates for inoculation would be those associated with the tree of interest in the field. AM fungus communities were assessed in 5 plantations of Tectona grandis Linn.f. A total of 21 AM fungal morphotypes were found, representing four families: Glomeraceae (49.6%), Acaulosporaceae (24.9%), Claroideoglomeraceae (20.8%), and Gigasporaceae (4.8%). Some of these AM fungi, plus Rhizophagus intraradices, were established in pot culture and in vitro with transformed carrot roots, and subsequently used to inoculate micropropagated plantlets of T. grandis. T. grandis plantlets inoculated with the AM fungus Claroideoglomus etunicatum PBT03 were taller than uninoculated controls in ex vitro experiments. Tectona grandis plantlets inoculated in vitro were successfully colonized by all AM fungi studied. Plants tended to grow best with Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices. This study provides early insight for the targeted use of the AM symbiosis in production of important tree species in future greenhouse studies.