Inoculation process for Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) seedling with Ectomycorrhizal fungi in hydroponic culture condition

Abstract

Mycorrhizal symbiosis increases micro and macronutrients especially phosphorous. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is kind of mycorrhizal symbiosis, which occur between the roots of some forest trees and ectomycorrhiza fungi. In this symbiosis, energy transfers from plant to fungus and nutrient elements from fungus to plant. In order to study the amount of phosphorous uptake in leaves through the symbiosis of ectomycorrhizal fungi with Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) seedling roots, we plant one year oak seedling in hydroponic culture system (Johnson complete solution) and then inoculate these seedlings with ectomycorrhizal fungi of Inocybe rimosa (Bull.), Amanita crocea (Quél.) Singer, Boletus comptus Simonini, Tricholoma sp.According to the results, after symbiosis the structure and shape of the symbiotic roots changed into the short, thick and different shapes. Inoculum of these fungi affected significantly (α = 0.01) on phosphorous uptake by oak seedlings. Mean comparison showed that phosphorus uptake has increased 2.5 and 4.4 times in inoculum treatments than control treatment. Application of ectomycorrhizal fungi (biological fertilizer) can help tree roots by increasing water and nutrient elements uptake resulting from increasing oak seedlings survival in forest ecosystem.

Keywords

• Ectomycorrhizal fungi
• phosphorous uptake
• Zagros forests