Comparison of growth characteristics and tolerance to serpentine soil of three ectomycorrhizal spruce seedlings in northern Japan

Abstract

1 2Picea glehnii is distributed widely on serpentine soils in northern Japan. Serpentine 3 soil is characterised by the presence of heavy metals (Ni, Cr) and excessive Mg; these 4 elements often suppress plant growth. We have examined the tolerance to serpentine 5 soil and its effects on growth of P. glehnii, P. jezoensis (distributed in the same region) 6and P. abies (planted for timber production). 7The dry mass of each organ was not reduced in P. glehnii planted in serpentine soil 8 contained nursery (serpentine nursery). In contrast, growth of P. jezoensis and P. abies 9 was suppressed. Concentrations of Ni and Mg in needles and roots of P. glehnii planted 10 in serpentine nursery were the lowest of the three species. Moreover, the 11 photosynthetic rate of P. glehnii planted in the serpentine nursery was not reduced. P. 12 glehnii has high capability to maintain low concentration of Ni, and ectomycorrhizal 13 symbiosis may have a positive effect to excluding Ni. As a result, P. glehnii has a high 14 tolerance against Ni toxicity, and its photosynthetic capacity is not suppressed by 15 accumulation of Ni. 16 17

Nutrient dynamics and carbon partitioning in larch seedlings (Larix kaempferi) regenerated on serpentine soil in northern Japan

“…Consequently, root growth is inhibited by increased Ni uptake (Dixon and Buschena 1988;Hutchinson 1986, 1988;Yang et al 1996;Tilistone and Macnair 1997;Miller and Cumming 2000). Moreover, Ni is accumulated into the chloroplasts when it is transported to leaves (L'Huillier et al 1996;Molas 2002) and thus decreases photosynthetic capacity (Carlson et al 1975;Rauser and Dumbroff 1981;Morgutti et al 1984;Kayama et al 2006). Our results suggest that these effects of Ni are minor in larch seedlings.…”

“…The uptake capacity of nitrogen and phosphorus under serpentine environment might be also higher for larch seedlings than that of Sakhalin spruce. In contrast, when Ni is transported to leaves, photosynthetic capacity is decreased (Carlson et al 1975;Rauser and Dumbroff 1981;Morgutti et al 1984;Kayama et al 2006). Sakhalin spruce did not show negative correlation between Ni concentration and photosynthetic rate .…”

“…Sakhalin spruce (Picea glehnii Masters) is dominant on serpentine soil in northern Japan (Tatewaki 1958;Nakata and Kojima 1987;Matsuda 1989). In northern Japan, therefore, Sakhalin spruce is a commonly used plantation species because of its high tolerance to serpentine soil (Kayama 2006;Kayama et al 2002Kayama et al , 2005Kayama et al , 2006. Moreover, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were higher in needles of Sakhalin spruce planted on serpentine soil than in needles of other species, despite the low concentrations of these nutrients in serpentine soil (Kayama et al 2002).…”

Ecophysiological responses of the larch species in northern Japan to environmental changes as a basis for afforestation

“…Second, knowledge of rhizosphere microorganisms or mycorrhizae and their interactions with plants is needed for sustainable resource production in forest environments Kayama et al 2006;Qu 2004;Quoreshi et al 2003;Ryu et al 2008). Although most research on environmental change has focused on aboveground phenomena, the roles of belowground components should be analyzed for the rehabilitation of degraded areas with larch species.…”

Fungal community structure under goat willows (Salix caprea L.) growing at metal polluted site: the potential of screening in a model phytostabilisation study

“…Because of the selection pressure of metal toxicity EM genotypes develop on metal enriched soils (Hartley et al 1997;Leyval et al 1997;Markkola et al 2002;Colpaert et al 2004;Adriaensen et al 2005) with the ability to alleviate the effects of heavy metal toxicity for themselves and their host trees (Adriaensen et al 2005(Adriaensen et al , 2006Krznaric et al 2009), by providing a more balanced access to mineral nutrition (Marschner and Dell 1994). Furthermore, literature data (Kayama et al 2006) suggest the adaptation to heavy metal enriched soils may depend upon the interaction of specialised genotypes of both host trees and EM fungi.…”