Inoculation with Ericoid Mycorrhizal Associations Alleviates Drought Stress in Lowland and Upland Velvetleaf Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) Seedlings

Although velvetleaf blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) is usually associated with sandy (upland) areas of the North American boreal forest, lowland populations can be also found in bogs, suggesting possible adaptations to different site conditions. In this study, we examined the role of ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi in conferring drought resistance to the upland and lowland velvetleaf blueberry seedlings. The seedlings were inoculated with four ERM fungi (Pezicula ericae, Pezoloma ericae, Meliniomyces variabilis, and Oidiodendron maius) isolated from the roots of ericaceous plants and grown under controlled environmental conditions in sterilized soil. The inoculated and non-inoculated (inoculation control) plants were subsequently subjected to three cycles of drought stress by withdrawing watering. Lowland plants appeared to benefit relatively more from mycorrhizal colonization, compared with the upland plants, in terms of plant growth and drought survival. After three weeks of treatments, the dry weights of non-inoculated well-watered upland plants were higher compared to the non-inoculated lowland plants. However, these differences were offset by the inoculation of plants with ERM fungi, some of which also significantly improved drought resistance characteristics of the upland and lowland plants. There were no major differences in the effects of different ERM fungal species on drought responses of upland and lowland plants. Of the examined ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, inoculation with Pezicula ericae was the most effective in conferring drought resistance characteristics to both upland and lowland seedlings and helped maintain higher shoot water potentials, net photosynthetic, and transpiration rates in plants subjected to drought stress.

Ombrotrophic peatlands: natural, holistic, integrated, long-term monitoring systems for atmospheric deposition of environmental contaminants to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

<p><em>Sphagnum </em>moss and age-dated peat cores from bogs have long been used to study contemporary and past atmospheric deposition of trace elements (TEs). However, other components of bog ecosystems represent additional scientific opportunities. Snowpack sampling, for example, represents a chance to study winter deposition while providing the perfect matrix for ICP-MS analyses of TEs. The berries that grow in bogs, including blueberry (<em>Vaccinium myrtilloides</em>), cloudberry (<em>Rubus chaemomorus</em>), cranberry (<em>Vaccinium oxycoccus</em>) and lingonberry (<em>Vaccinium vitisidaea</em>), provide insight into the bioavailability of micronutrients (and contaminants) at the surface of the bog, as well as an index of dust deposition onto the fruits themselves. Labrador Tea (<em>Rhododendron groenlandicum</em>) provides similar information, but with greater relevance for Indigenous Peoples, as this is an important medicinal plant for them, along with the Pitcher Plant (<em>Sarracenia purpurea</em>). The acidic, organic-rich waters which represent > 90 % of the mass of these ecosystems, presents an even greater opportunity: the chance to quantify the extent to which aerosols and dusts dissolve, subsequent to deposition from the air. In this study, we present data for TEs in all of these media, with a view to exploring the broader potential of ombrotrophic peatlands as natural, holistic, integrated, long-term monitoring systems. The approach presented here not only addresses our need for information regarding  atmospheric deposition of environmental contaminants to terrestrial ecoystems, but also insight into their release, or potential release, to downstream aquatic ecosystems.</p>

Effect of plant-derived smoke water and potassium nitrate on germination of understory boreal forest plants

This experiment assessed the effects of plant-derived smoke water, potassium nitrate (KNO3), and their combined effect on germination of cold-stratified and non-stratified seed from 18 native boreal forest plant species. Seeds were treated with smoke water diluted to 1:20, 0.1% KNO3, and smoke water + KNO3. Nine species responded positively to smoke water; these responses were dependent on the type of stratification, and three of these species only had a positive response to smoke water + KNO3 solution. Five species responded positively to KNO3 and four of those were associated with smoke water + KNO3 solution. Smoke water induced germination of several species, but only for seeds that had been previously cold-stratified. Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx. had the largest increase in germination using smoke water and the most reduced germination using KNO3. The interactions between smoke water, KNO3, and stratified seeds are not well understood. The effects and applications of smoke water and KNO3 (or other nitrogen sources) should be further researched to determine alternative approaches to restoration of disturbed boreal forest ecosystems.

Apatite Stimulates the Deposition of Glomalin-Related Soil Protein in a Lowbush Blueberry Commercial Field

Many wind-sensitive and unproductive soils could benefit from increased glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), an operationally defined soil protein pool known to improve soil quality and nutrient storage. We expect at least part of this GRSP fraction to originate from fungal biomass. Although P-rich minerals such as apatite are known to increase C allocation from plants to mycorrhizal fungi, there are no studies directly linking apatite with GRSP. We investigated the effect of apatite on GRSP deposition rates in a cultivated field of wild lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton; Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.) in the Saguenay‒Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec (Canada). A field incubation technique (145 days) using sterilized porous sand bags (50 µm pores) was used to measure in situ easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) deposition rates from bags with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) apatite. Half of the bags (n = 10) were also soaked in Proline® 480 SC (Bayer CropScience, Calgary, Alberta, Canada) (Prothioconazole) to determine if EE-GRSP deposition rates were affected by this commonly applied fungicide. Our results indicated that adding apatite into sand bags significantly increased (+70%) EE-GRSP deposition rates, whereas soaking the bags in fungicide had no significant effect. Although the direct linkage between GRSP and lowbush blueberry plants remains to be detailed, our study reports for the first time GRSP concentrations from lowbush blueberry soils. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Pollen-ovule ratios in seven species of Vaccinium (Ericaceae) and stamen structure in Vaccinium myrtilloides and Vaccinium vitis-idaea1This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Pollination biology research in Canada: Perspectives on a mutualism at different scales”.

Pollen-ovule (P/O) ratios were determined for five Vaccinium species (Ericaceae) native to eastern Canada (Nova Scotia: V. angustifolium, V. boreale, V. caespitosum, V. corymbosum, V. uliginosum), one in western Canada (Saskatchewan: V. myrtilloides), and one (V. vitis-idaea) from both provinces. Pollen, released at maturity as tetrads, was converted to total pollen grains per flower to yield P/O ratios ranging from 238 (V. caespitosum) to 2008 (V. vitis-idaea), but 736 for the latter in Saskatchewan. These P/O ratios are indicative of facultative autogamy to facultative xenogamy. Additionally, the structure of mature stamens and pollen tetrads was studied in V. myrtilloides and V. vitis-idaea. Each anther was functionally bilocular; had a single-cell thickness (i.e., epidermis) with regularly occurring papillae; lacked an endothecium; and possessed two distal, hollow tubules each terminating in a pore. Overall pollen grain viability was 76%–97% (V. myrtilloides) and 51%–93% (V. vitis-idaea), with about 20% of tetrads having only 1–3 grains viable, and 12% and 27% of tetrads entirely nonviable in V. myrtilloides and V. vitis-idaea, respectively. Pollen tetrads occasionally were connected by a sticky substance resembling pollenkitt, but viscin threads were absent. One instance of precocious (in situ) germination of tetrads was recorded within anthers of V. myrtilloides.

Bud-autogamy in the velvet-leaf blueberry, Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.

In velvet-leaf blueberry, Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx., flower buds at different stages of development were collected from managed, lowbush blueberry populations and examined microscopically for evidence of autodeposition of selfpollen. During late bud development, anther pores opened for pollen tetrad release and remained relatively close to the stigma. Just prior to full bloom, at petal separation, 18% of the flower buds were pollinated. Self-pollination prior to anthesis may either ensure some reproductive success or enhance the seed set from subsequent cross pollinations. Key words: Vaccinium, autogamy, self-pollination

Effect of Fire Intensity and Depth of Burn on Lowbush Blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Velvet Leaf Blueberry, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Production in Eastern Ontario

The effects of prescribed fire intensity and depth of burn were investigated on Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and Velvet Leaf Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) stem density, blueberry production and the number of blueberries/stem in a clear-cut Jack Pine, Pinus banksiana, ecosystem of eastern Ontario. Blueberry production and stem density were significantly (P < 0.001) increased by low intensity prescribed fires of 597 and 1268 kW/m. In contrast, prescribed fires of medium and high intensities did not affect blueberry production and stem density. The number of blueberries/stem was not affected (P = 0.056) by prescribed burning, two years after treatment. Pearson's multiple correlation analysis showed that blueberry production (R: -0.683, P < 0.01), stem density (R: 0.733, P < 0.01) and the number of blueberries/stem (R: 0.803, P < 0.01) correlated with depth of burn. As well, blueberry production (R: 0.507, P < 0.05) and stem density (R: -0.504, P < 0.05) correlated with fire intensity. Depth of burn was a better predictor of berry production and stem density than fire intensity. These results suggest that only low intensity fires with little penetrating effect in the ground should be used to manage blueberry crops.

Is Fall Burning Preferable to Spring Burning for Promoting Growth Characteristics Favorable for Mechanical Harvesting in Vaccinium myrtilloides Michaux?

Periodic prescribed burns of lowbush blueberry barrens promote high yield, aid in weed control, and reduce fungal and insect damage. Whether such prescribed fires should be set in the autumn or the spring has been a matter of some dispute. Previous research on Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton suggested some advantages to autumnal burning, but few data have been collected on V. myrtilloides Michaux. To evaluate whether time of burning affected plant qualities most favorable for mechanical harvesting, such as stem length and lateral branching, a series of experiments was conducted on V. myrtilloides. Differences in stem length, numbers of lateral branches, and buds per stem were nonsignificant among plants burned in fall vs. those burned in spring. In three of four experiments, however, fall burns resulted in the growth of fewer lateral branches. Furthermore, among the four experiments, growth responses were more uniform following fall than following spring burns. We therefore suggest that, where possible, fall burns should be prescribed for blueberry plants that will be mechanically harvested.