EFFECTS OF ENDOMYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION ON GROWTH OF SELECTED LANDSCAPE PLANTS USED IN HIGHWAY REVEGETATION. FINAL REPORT

Verkade and Hamilton (1980) found that extensive mycorrhizal development occurred on roots of regal privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum Koehne Rehd.) after six weeks of rooting in media containing inoculum of Glomus mosseae (Thaxter) Gerdemann and Trappe. This coincided with substantial increases in root development. It, hence, was reasonable to conclude that inoculation in the propagation state of production would insure the earliest possible mycorrhizal development and subsequent promotion of growth. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of mycorrhizal inoculation during clonal propagtion by cuttings, and to determine the effect of mycorrhizae on root initiation and growth of Viburnum. Mycorrhizal inoculation with G. fasciulatum significantly increased root growth and root initiation of arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum). Roots of inoculated cuttings were highly mycorrhizal (30-50% cortical cells infected), while roots of non-inoculated cuttings were virtually non-mycorrhizal (0-2% cortical cells infected). Inoculation significantly increased the number of root initials penetrating the stems of cuttings after five weeks of rooting, with smaller increases during subsequent weeks. Increased root initiation, however, occurred only after roots had begun to form. Other environmental factors, however, were found to have a greater influence on plant establishment on the roadside than the presence of mycorrhizal. If the conditions are too adverse for good plant establishment, (i.e., moisture and temperature stresses) plant failure results even if they are inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi.

• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP

  Purdue University, School of Civil Engineering
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-1284

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Verkade, S D
  • Carpenter, P L
• Publication Date: 1986-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 60 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fertilization (Horticulture); Fungi; Landscape maintenance; Plants; Roadside; Roots; Shrubs; Urban growth; Vegetation
• Old TRIS Terms: Fertilization; Roots, plants
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458355
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/IN/JHRP-85/12
• Contract Numbers: 1(21) Part II
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1987 12:00AM