ISHS Acta Horticulturae 715: VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
MYCORRHIZAL COLONIZATION OF HALF-HIGH BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS INFLUENCED BY CULTURAL PRACTICES |
| Authors: | M. Starast, U. Koljalg, K. Karp, E. Vool, M. Noormets, T. Paal |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium corumbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, fungus, hypha, DNA extraction, yield, growth, light microscope |
| Abstract:
Mycorrhizae probably play an important role in the biology of Vaccinium spp. and in the development of a sustainable agriculture, because mycorrhizae may be beneficial in reducing the utilization of agricultural chemicals, such as fertilizers and growth regulators. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cultural practices on the level of mycorrhizal colonization in field-grown half-high blueberry (Vaccinium corumbosum × Vaccinium angustifolium) cultivars Northblue and Northcountry. The root samples were taken from five-year-old blueberry plants, cleaned and stained with trypan blue. The colonization rate of roots by hyphae was studied under a light microscope. Our results indicate that mycorrhizal colonization was significantly higher on roots of cultivar Northblue. Using of plastic mulch in plantation increased mycorrhizal colonization. There was a positive correlation between mycorrhizal colonization and growth, and between mycorrhizal colonization and yield of blueberry plants. | |
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