The effect of ectomycorrhizal fungal exposure on nursery-raised Pinus sylvestris seedlings: plant transpiration under short-term drought, root morphology and plant biomass.

ABSTRACT: Drought is a major environmental stressor that limits seedling growth. Several studies have found that some ectomycorrhizal fungi may increase the drought tolerance of nursery-raised seedlings. However, the precise role that different ectomycorrhizal fungi species play in drought tolerance remains unclear. We evaluated the transpiration rate of Pinus sylvestris seedlings under drought stress in greenhouse conditions by exposing seedlings to 10 ectomycorrhizal fungi species, with different functional traits (exploration type and hydrophobicity), and to 3 natural soil inoculums. We measured the transpiration and water potential of the seedlings during a 10-day drought period and a 14-day recovery period. We then analyzed their root morphology, stem, needle, root biomass and needle chlorophyl

SUBMITTER: De Quesada G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10990620 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature