Influence of soil biota on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedling growth: the role of rhizosphere bacteria

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1025-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Chanway ◽  
F. B. Holl

The influence of soil biota on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedling growth was investigated by sowing seed collected from two ecologically distinct zones in British Columbia, Chilliwack and Williams Lake, in soil collected from the same two areas. Seedling biomass of both Douglas-fir ecotypes was greatest in unpasteurized soil collected from the same area as was the seed, but pasteurization negated this effect. In addition, Chilliwack seedlings responded specifically to biota present only in Chilliwack soil. To determine if rhizosphere bacteria were involved in these growth responses, bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of wild Douglas-fir seedlings collected from both locations, and putative growth promoting bacteria were selected in a screening experiment. Selected bacteria were then tested for seedling growth response specificity using a factorial design in which seed, soil, and bacteria from both locations were evaluated in all combinations. Inoculation of Douglas-fir seed with some of the selected bacterial isolates increased seedling biomass in pasteurized soil to a level similar to that of seedlings grown in unpasteurized soil, but there was no evidence that adaptive relationships involving bacteria, Douglas-fir, and the soil in which they naturally grew were important in effecting seedling growth promotion. However, Douglas-fir shoot biomass increased 39% and root biomass 68% after bacterial inoculation in some treatment combinations involving pasteurized soil. Key words: Douglas-fir seedlings, growth, rhizosphere bacteria.

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 2347-2353 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. O'Neill ◽  
C. P. Chanway ◽  
P. E. Axelrood ◽  
R. A. Radley ◽  
F. B. Holl

The influence of inoculation with rhizosphere bacteria on hybrid spruce (Picea glauca × engelmannii) seedling growth was investigated by isolating bacteria from the rhizosphere of naturally regenerating spruce seedlings collected from two ecologically distinct zones of British Columbia. Forty bacterial strains from spruce were screened in a seedling growth experiment, and several strains were shown to stimulate spruce seedling growth. The three most effective spruce growth promoting strains from each ecological zone were then tested in a seedling growth response specificity experiment in which seed, soil, and bacteria from both spruce ecosystems were examined in all possible treatment combinations, including pasteurized soil. Spruce seedling growth was primarily affected by seed and soil source (Salmon Arm > Mackenzie for both factors), and by soil pasteurization (pasteurized > unpasteurized). Significant growth effects due to bacterial treatment in the specificity experiment occurred only in pasteurized soil, but seedling biomass accumulation was stimulated by up to 59% in response to inoculation. There was no evidence of growth response specificity that was related to plant – bacteria adaptation within spruce ecotypes; two of the Mackenzie bacterial strains significantly inhibited growth of Mackenzie seedlings in Mackenzie soil, but two strains stimulated the growth of Salmon Arm seedlings, one in each soil type. Two Salmon Arm strains significantly stimulated growth of Mackenzie seedlings on Salmon Arm soil, and two strains stimulated the growth of Salmon Arm seedlings, one in each soil type. Seedling biomass was greater when treatments of spruce seed, soil, and rhizosphere bacteria that originated from the same geographic site were pooled and compared with treatments in which at least one factor originated from the other site. However, this effect was explained by the significant seed × soil interaction in the absence of bacteria; mean seedling biomass was greatest when spruce seed and soil treatments with the same geographic origin were pooled and compared with unrelated seed – soil combinations. Seedlings from pooled treatments were also significantly larger when bacteria and soil had a common geographic origin, but only when tested in pasteurized soil. Our results indicate that spruce growth promoting rhizosphere bacteria can be isolated from naturally regenerating spruce seedlings, but growth response variability was observed between trials. Seedling growth promotion by bacterial strains was not related to the use of spruce ecotypes, soil, and (or) rhizosphere bacteria with a common geographic origin. Key words: spruce seedlings, growth, inoculation, rhizosphere bacteria.


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Shishido ◽  
Christopher P Chanway

Seeds of two hybrid spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) ecotypes were inoculated with one of six plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains previously shown to be able to stimulate spruce growth in controlled environments. The resulting seedlings were grown in the greenhouse for 17 weeks before outplanting at four reforestation sites. Inoculation with five of the six strains caused significant seedling growth promotion in the greenhouse, which necessitated analysis of relative growth rates (RGR) to evaluate seedling performance in the field. Four months after outplanting, most strains enhanced spruce shoot or root RGRs in the field, but seedling growth responses were strain specific. For example, Pseudomonas strain Ss2-RN significantly increased both shoot and root RGRs by 10-234% at all sites, but increases of 28-70% were most common. In contrast, Bacillus strain S20-R was ineffective at all outplanting sites. In addition, seedlings inoculated with four of the six strains had significantly less shoot injury than control seedlings at all sites. Evaluation of root colonization by PGPR indicated that bacterial population declines were not related to spruce growth response variability in the field. Our results indicate that once plant growth promotion is induced in the greenhouse, seedling RGR can increase by more than 100% during the first growing season in the field. However RGR increases of 21-47% were more common and may be more representative of the magnitude of biomass increases that can result from PGPR inoculation.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 582-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Chanway ◽  
F. B. Holl

The influence of inoculation with rhizosphere bacteria on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedling emergence in a controlled environment and on survival and growth in the field was investigated. Seed or seedlings of interior and coastal Douglas-fir ecotypes originating from the vicinity of Williams Lake and Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, respectively, were inoculated with two strains of rhizosphere bacteria, Arthrobacter oxydans strain N74 and Pseudomonas aureofaciens strain K23. These strains were previously isolated from naturally regenerating Douglas-fir seedlings collected from the Williams Lake and Chilliwack sites, respectively. Seed inoculation with either strain of bacteria, K23 or N74, stimulated the rate of seedling emergence, but these effects were not ecotype specific. While inoculation did not affect germination percentage, ecotype-specific seedling growth responses were detected 13 months after field planting. Arthrobacter oxydans strain N74 significantly stimulated seedling branching and enhanced root and shoot dry weight of the Williams Lake ecotype but had no significant stimulatory effect on growth of the Chilliwack ecotype. Pseudomonas aureofaciens strain K23 significantly stimulated shoot branching and root dry weight of Chilliwack Douglas-fir but had no significant stimulatory effect on growth of that from Williams Lake. When treatments of Douglas-fir seedlings and rhizosphere bacteria that originated from the same geographic site were pooled and compared with uninoculated controls, significant increases in shoot branch number and root dry weight were also detected. No significant difference in seedling growth was detected when treatments of seedlings and bacteria that originated from different sites were pooled and compared with uninoculated controls. Based on these results, we hypothesize that plant–microbe specificity may be an important component of Douglas-fir – beneficial rhizosphere bacteria interactions in the field. Key words: Douglas-fir seedlings, emergence, growth, rhizosphere bacteria, inoculation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal Qaiser ◽  
Lee Yong Seong ◽  
Jeon Hyeon Deok ◽  
Kim Kil Young

The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y1 strain was evaluated for its effects on soil properties, pepper seedling growth, rhizosphere bacterial flora and soil enzyme activities. Y1 solubilised insoluble phosphate, produced chitinase, and released siderophores in plate detection assay. In order to evaluate the plant growth promotion potential in vivo, strain Y1 was grown in media containing chitin powder and complex fertiliser. The pot experiment was conducted by treating pepper seedlings with C1/1 (Y1 culture, 50 ml), C2/3 (Y1 culture, 33 ml), C1/2 (Y1 culture, 25 ml), F1/1 (complex fertiliser, 50 ml), F1/2 (complex fertiliser, 25 ml), and W (water) at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after transplantation (DAT). Plants receiving Y1 had 52% (C1/2) and 68% (C1/1) more root and shoot biomass than W, and 14% (C1/1) and 18% (C2/3) more compared to F1/1 at 80 DAT. Total numbers of flowers per plant at 80 DAT were found significantly higher with the application of Y1 having 34 (C1/1), 35 (C2/3), and 22 (C1/2) compared to 4 (W), 12 (F1/1) and 10 (F1/2). In addition, chlorophyll content in pepper leaves was found to improve with the application of Y1. Furthermore, Y1 has significantly improved nutritional assimilation of total NPK, population of total culturable bacteria and chitinase producing bacteria and activities of chitinase and dehydrogenase in soil. At 60 and 80 DAT, the number of B. amyloliquefaciens at C1/1, C2/3, and C1/2 ranged from 2.3 × 10<sup>4</sup> to 4.6 × 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/g of soil. Our results concluded that B. amyloliquefaciens Y1 has positive effects on soil properties and can be suggested as a bio-fertiliser to minimise fertiliser application in modern agriculture.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1566-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry M Shaw ◽  
James A Moore ◽  
John D Marshall

Root chemistry and biomass allocation of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Bessn.) Franco) seedlings under optimal and deficient levels of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) were studied. Seedlings receiving high-N treatments were significantly larger and allocated more dry matter to their stems and less to their roots than those receiving the low-N treatments. The K treatments did not significantly affect total seedling biomass or root/shoot ratios. Root tip starch concentrations were significantly higher and root tip sugar concentrations were lower in plants receiving the low-N treatments. Seedlings receiving the high-N, low-K treatment had significantly lower concentrations of phenolics and tannins and lower ratios of these compounds to sugars in the root tips than seedlings receiving the high-K treatments. Samples taken from two locations on the root system show that concentrations of phenolics, tannins, sugars, and starches were substantially higher in the root collar than in the root tips. Because of lower within tissue variation, we recommend sampling at root tips to better detect treatment differences. This study shows that N levels affect starch concentrations in the roots, while K levels affect root phenolic and tannin concentrations. Possible relationships between low root phenolic and tannin concentrations and lessened resistance of Douglas-fir to root disease are discussed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Minore ◽  
Howard G. Weatherly

Abstract The effects of five yarding-slash treatment combinations on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) growth and survival were compared by obtaining seedling heights, potential seedling heights, survival percentages, soil-penetration resistances, and the occurrence of visible soil-humus for 149 progeny-test plantations in western Oregon. Survival was not improved by mechanical site preparation, and seedlings grown on the compacted, low-humus soils associated with piling slash off site did not grow as tall during their first 5 years as seedlings growing on similar sites where slash had been broadcast-burned. Tilling (disking or ripping) did not benefit seedling height growth. West. J. Appl. For. 5(2):49-51, April 1990.


2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-216
Author(s):  
K.R. Dumroese

Abstract Growing interior sources of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) seedlings in containers with four root-modifying treatments changed root morphology and subsequent abundance and location of new roots. Copper, 1-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and copper + NAA treatments reduced height and shoot biomass about 20% compared with the control, but root collar diameters were similar. In a root growth chamber, however, 30% more new roots occurred in the copper treatment compared with the control, and new roots originating in the upper portion of the root plug increased 3X. NAA increased the total number of new roots and roots growing from the upper root plug when compared with the control but not to the same extent as copper. Combining copper and NAA decreased the number of deliverable seedlings by about 50% when compared with all other treatments. West. J. Appl. For. 15(4):213–216.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 943
Author(s):  
Katri Nissinen ◽  
Virpi Virjamo ◽  
Antti Kilpeläinen ◽  
Veli-Pekka Ikonen ◽  
Laura Pikkarainen ◽  
...  

We studied the growth responses of boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings to simulated climate warming of an average of 1.3 °C over the growing season in a controlled field experiment in central Finland. We had six replicate plots for elevated and ambient temperature for each tree species. The warming treatment lasted for the conifers for three growing seasons and for the birch two growing seasons. We measured the height and diameter growth of all the seedlings weekly during the growing season. The shoot and root biomass and their ratios were measured annually in one-third of seedlings harvested from each plot in autumn. After two growing seasons, the height, diameter and shoot biomass were 45%, 19% and 41% larger in silver birch seedlings under the warming treatment, but the root biomass was clearly less affected. After three growing seasons, the height, diameter, shoot and root biomass were under a warming treatment 39, 47, 189 and 113% greater in Scots pine, but the root:shoot ratio 29% lower, respectively. The corresponding responses of Norway spruce to warming were clearly smaller (e.g., shoot biomass 46% higher under a warming treatment). As a comparison, the relative response of height growth in silver birch was after two growing seasons equal to that measured in Scots pine after three growing seasons. Based on our findings, especially silver birch seedlings, but also Scots pine seedlings benefitted from warming, which should be taken into account in forest regeneration in the future.


Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 744-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry E. Weiland ◽  
Bryan R. Beck ◽  
Anne Davis

Pythium species are common soilborne oomycetes that occur in forest nursery soils throughout the United States. Numerous species have been described from nursery soils. However, with the exception of P. aphanidermatum, P. irregulare, P. sylvaticum, and P. ultimum, little is known about the potential for other Pythium species found in nursery soils to cause damping-off of tree seedlings. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the pathogenicity and virulence of 44 Pythium isolates representing 16 species that were originally recovered from soil at three forest nurseries in Washington and Oregon. Seeds of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were planted into soil infested with each of the isolates. Seedling survival, the number of surviving seedlings with necrotic root lesions, and taproot length were evaluated 4 weeks later. Responses of Douglas-fir to inoculation varied significantly depending on Pythium species and isolate. Eight species (P. dissotocum, P. irregulare, P. aff. macrosporum, P. mamillatum, P. aff. oopapillum, P. rostratifingens, P. sylvaticum, and P. ultimum var. ultimum) significantly reduced the number of surviving seedlings compared to the noninoculated treatment. However, all Pythium species caused a greater percentage of seedlings to develop root lesions (total mean 40%) than was observed from noninoculated seedlings (17%). Taproot length varied little among Pythium treatments and was not a useful character for evaluating pathogenicity. Results confirm the ability of P. irregulare, P. mamillatum, and P. ultimum var. ultimum to cause damping-off of Douglas-fir seedlings, and are indicative that other species such as P. dissotocum, P. aff. macrosporum, P. aff. oopapillum, P. rostratifingens, and P. sylvaticum may also be responsible for seedling loss.


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