MycorrhizaMycorrhizal fungi in urban plantingsl fungi in urban plantingsImproving plant tolerance to water stressImproving plant tolerance to water stress

Canadian Urban Forest Conference, Kelowna, October 20, 2004Canadian Urban Forest Conference, Kelowna, October 20, 2004

Mario LanthierMario LanthierCropHealth Advising & ResearchCropHealth Advising & Research

Kelowna, B.C.Kelowna, B.C.www.crophealth.comwww.crophealth.com

International Mosaiculture Montréal, 2003

“Myths and Legends of the World”

Giants of Easter Island Entry from Chile

4th International Conference on Mycorrhizae

Montréal, Québec August 10 – 15, 2003

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and water stressand water stress Pepper plants (Pepper plants (Capsicum a.Capsicum a.) under different water regimes) under different water regimes

Adapted from F.T. Davies, Texas A&M University, Adapted from F.T. Davies, Texas A&M University, ICOM 2003ICOM 2003

0

25

50

75

100

Adequate water 20-day drought (70% ET)

% w

ithou

t sev

ere

drou

ght

No mycorrhizaeWith mycorrhizae

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and water stressand water stress Chile pepper plants (Chile pepper plants (Capsicum a.Capsicum a.) exposed to drought cycles) exposed to drought cycles

Plant on the right was inoculated with a desert Plant on the right was inoculated with a desert mycorrhizalmycorrhizal fungifungi Photo by FPhoto by F.T. Davies, Texas A&M University, .T. Davies, Texas A&M University, 20022002

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and water stressand water stress Midday transpiration of containerMidday transpiration of container--grown grown Rosa Rosa hybridahybrida

Adapted from F.T. Davies, Adapted from F.T. Davies, Tree Physiology, 1996Tree Physiology, 1996

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1

2

3

Adequate water 4-day drought

Tran

spira

tion

mm

ol/m

/s

No mycorrhizaeWith mycorrhizae

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and drought avoidanceand drought avoidance From F.T. Davies, A&M University, ICOM 2003From F.T. Davies, A&M University, ICOM 2003

Direct water transportFungi may supply 10% of plant water needHyphal threads forage more soil surface

Better host nutritionHigher phosphorus and nitrogen in leaves Current research: does P improve drought

resistance?Plant - osmotic adjustments

Helps maintain leaf turgidity and photosynthesis rateCurrent research: changes in soil – water relations

Plants that are colonized by mycorrhizal fungi

have a higher tolerance to enviromental stresses

caused by drought, replant,

cold, low fertility, saline soil,

or pressure from root rot pathogens.

Mycelial network of ectomycorrhiza Suillus b.

in association with Pinus sylvestris

Photo from J.R. Leake, University of Sheffield, UK

2001

MycorrhizalMycorrhizal AssociationsAssociations D.H. Marx, Plant Health Care Inc., 1997D.H. Marx, Plant Health Care Inc., 1997

No mycorrhizaeEarly-successsion plantsLamb’s quarter, buckwheat, broccoli, spinach, beet

Endo-mycorrhizaeVAM, Ericaceous (rhododendron), OrchidaceousVery common, occurs on 85% of green plantsTurf grass, vegetables, most shrubs, most trees

Ecto-mycorrhizaeOn about 10% of plants, mostly late succession plantsFir, spruce, pine, birch, beech, oak, linden, willow

MycorrhizaMycorrhizall Root ColonizationRoot Colonization Liners potted July 2001, roots cut September 2002 (n=8)Liners potted July 2001, roots cut September 2002 (n=8)

Laboratory analysis at Premier Tech, QuebecLaboratory analysis at Premier Tech, Quebec

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50

Cornus Ivory Halo

% r

oot c

olon

izat

ion

Nursery mixAdd Premier Mycorise

MycorrhizaMycorrhizall Root ColonizationRoot Colonization Liners potted Liners potted August 2002August 2002, roots cut , roots cut OctoberOctober 20020033

Laboratory analysis at Laboratory analysis at MycorrhizalMycorrhizal Applications, OregonApplications, Oregon

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25

50

Juniper 'Bar Harbor' Juniper 'Moordense'

% r

oot c

olon

izat

ion

Nursery mixAdd Premier Mycorise

Laboratory plant-drying oven

with bagged samples

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae on top growthon top growth Liners in 1Liners in 1--gallon pots July 2001, cut September 2002 (n=20)gallon pots July 2001, cut September 2002 (n=20)

Measure of top dry weight after 24 hours at 105Measure of top dry weight after 24 hours at 105ooCC

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25

50

Spiraea Froebeli Cornus Ivory Halo

Top

dry

wei

ght (

gram

s)

Nursery mixAdd Premier Mycorise

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae on on pottingpotting survivalsurvival BareBare--rootroot treestrees pottedpotted in in AprilApril. Rating . Rating ofof ««livelive»» treestrees in Julyin July

Commercial Commercial mycorrhizalmycorrhizal fungifungi appliedapplied duringduring pottingpotting

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75

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Quercus 10 gal. Tilia 20 gal. Celtis 10 gal. Sorbus 10 gal

% o

f tre

es w

ith s

hoot

gro

wth

UntreatedPremier mycorise

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae on root weighton root weight JuniperusJuniperus 'Blue Star' cuttings planted 23 September.'Blue Star' cuttings planted 23 September.

Measure of root dry weight at 20 weeks after potting. (n=63)Measure of root dry weight at 20 weeks after potting. (n=63)

0

0.025

0.05

0.075

endoRoots Control mycorrhizaRoots Myke Endo

root

dry

wei

ght p

er p

lant

(g)

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and soil compactionand soil compaction Seedlings of Seedlings of Acer Acer nigrumnigrum planted in soil manually compactedplanted in soil manually compacted

Adapted from J.N. Adapted from J.N. KlironomosKlironomos, , GuelphGuelph University, 2002University, 2002

0

5

10

No compaction Compaction Compaction +Mycorrhizae

Num

ber o

f liv

e tr

ees

19981999

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae on street treeson street trees Root samples of Root samples of CarpinusCarpinus and and Acer p.Acer p., City of Penticton, City of Penticton

Laboratory analysis at SLaboratory analysis at Soil oil FoodWebFoodWeb Inc., OregonInc., Oregon

Location Planted Inoculation? Sample Colonisation101 Eckhardt 1991 Yes Oct 2003 20 %103 Eckhardt 1991 No Oct 2003 0 %205 Martin Oct 2001 Yes Oct 2003 0 %247 Martin Oct 2001 No Oct 2003 0 %Gallery SE Apr 2003 Yes Oct 2003 0 %Gallery NE Apr 2003 No Oct 2003 0 %350 Ellis Apr 2004 Yes Sep 2004 4 %346 Ellis Apr 2004 No Sep 2004 1 %

Vandalism

Broken stems on newly-planted

street trees

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and and water stresswater stress Study of Study of GlomusGlomus species on lettuce subjected to water stressspecies on lettuce subjected to water stress

Adapted from RuizAdapted from Ruiz--Lozano et al, App & Lozano et al, App & EnvEnv Microbiology, 1995Microbiology, 1995

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deserticola intraradices mosseae occultum Untreated

Wat

er u

se e

ffici

ency

Commercial bag

“endoRoots granular” from Roots Inc.

Glomus mosseae Glomus intraradices Glomus deserticola

+ 5 other species

+ analysis 3 - 3 - 4

+ kelp meal

humus amino acids

Tree quality with amendmentsTree quality with amendments Application Sept 2003, rating Oct 2004, City of PentictonApplication Sept 2003, rating Oct 2004, City of Penticton

Rating from 1 (dead) to 5 (excellent) (n=8)Rating from 1 (dead) to 5 (excellent) (n=8)

1

2

3

4

5

Untreated Urea + K-Mag Stress Arrest3-19-13

OM Booster+ Myke Mycor.

tree

qua

lity

BiostimulantsBiostimulants and water stressand water stress StreetStreet--planted Bplanted B&B English oak (&B English oak (Quercus Quercus roburrobur))

Adapted from Adapted from FerriniFerrini and and NiceseNicese, J Arboriculture, March 2002, J Arboriculture, March 2002

0

2

4

6

Untreated RootGrow (humicacids, Yucca, N-fixing

bacteria)

Mycobacter(mycorrhizal fungi,humic acids, Yucca)

Wat

er u

se e

ffici

ency

WaterWater use use efficiencyefficiency = Net = Net photosynthesisphotosynthesis / / EvaporationEvaporation raterate

MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae and urban plantsand urban plants Donald H. Marx, Plant Health Care Inc., 1996Donald H. Marx, Plant Health Care Inc., 1996

Possible applicationsThe plant is a known mycorrhizal host. The soil is poor quality, small volume, or not irrigated.

Potential benefitsIncreased tolerance to transplant, drought, stress, and root rot.Improved availability of nutrients.

To encourage root colonisationInoculate prior to transplanting.Maintain adequate water and fertiliser, mulch if possible.