Early growth performance of mycorrhizae inoculated Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) seedlings in a nursery experiment conducted in inland part of Turkey

Abstract

Survival rate of seedlings planted in arid and semi-arid land parts of Turkey is low. New methods and techniques are needed to increase survival rate and growth performance of seedlings used in afforestation practices in the region. The aim of this study is to evaluate the growth performance of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich) seedlings receiving different mycorrhizae inoculation treatments. The experiment was conducted in the western part of Central Anatolia. Two commercial mycorrhizal cocktails were used for treatments in a completely randomized design experiment. Both ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were observed in the same root system of the seedlings after the mycorrhizal inoculation. But the relationship between ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhiza was antagonistic. Analysis of the data indicated that mycorrhizal colonization was effective on seedlings' morphological characteristics. The significant differences were detected for root collar diameter, shoot height, root length, specific needle area, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot to root dry weight ratio, and Dickson quality index of seedling received different treatments. Mycorrhizae positively affected plant nutrition by increasing uptake of nutrients.

Keywords:

• Anatolia
• Cedrus libani
• mycorrhizal fungi
• nursery performance

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Prof. Dr. Oktay Yildiz for his helpful advice and comments; Dr. Sukru Teoman Guner for his assistance with data collection; Assist. Prof. Dr. Serdar Akburak for his support with sample analysis and the staff of Eskisehir Forest Nursery for their help with seedling production.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.