Utilization of rocks and ectomycorrhizal fungi to promote growth of eucalypt

Abstract

The utilization of rocks as fertilizers is limited by their low solubility. However, solubilization may be achieved by some micro-organisms, such as ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMf). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of seven isolates of ECMf to solubilize two rocks, alkaline breccia and granite, and to liberate potassium and phosphorus for Eucalyptus dunnii seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Fungal inoculants were produced in a peat-vermiculite-liquid medium mixture and added to the planting substrate at 10 %. Rocks were ground up and added at 0.500 mg and 16.0 mg per plant, as a source of phosphorus and potassium, respectively. Other nutrients were added and E. dunnii seeds were sown.Control plants, non-inoculated, were fertilized with the same amount of phosphorus and potassium using soluble forms. After 90 days, the plant height, shoot dry weight, root length, phosphorus and potassium contents, and mycorrhizal colonization were evaluated. Alkaline breccia was more efficient than granite as

Potassium-Solubilizing Microorganism in Evergreen Agriculture: An Overview

“…Potassium uptake compared to Mg and Ca was especially enhanced in AM switch grass grown in acid soil (Clark et al 1999). Ectomycorrhizal fungi particularly isolated UFSC-Pt22 and UFSC-Pt186 and contributed to the increase of the efficiency of alkaline breccias as a source of P and K to the plant growth of Eucalyptus dunnii seedlings, respectively (Alves et al 2010). Prajapati et al (2012) reported that potassiumsolubilizing fungi (KSF) strains such as Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus niger were isolated from various K-rich soil samples and observed that A. terreus and A. niger could solubilize insoluble potassium and showed the highest available potassium in liquid medium by using two various insoluble sources of potassium, i.e., feldspar and potassium aluminum silicate, based on their colonies and morphology characters.…”

“…The inoculant of the two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species G. intraradices and G. mosseae were applied in soil on a weight basis and recorded the increasing potassium uptake by maize crop (Wu et al 2005) Information on the uptake of the macronutrient cations through AM plants has been relatively inconsistent in that increases, decreases, and no effects have been reported (Clark and Zeto 1996), and in the case of potassium, it depends on the soil condition as well as nature of plant growth and other conditions (Clark and Zeto 2000). Alves et al (2010) reported that after 90 days, the plant height, root length, shoot dry weight potassium and phosphorus contents, and mycorrhizae colonization were increased in comparison to control. Potassium uptake compared to Mg and Ca was especially enhanced in AM switch grass grown in acid soil (Clark et al 1999).…”

KSM Soil Diversity and Mineral Solubilization, in Relation to Crop Production and Molecular Mechanism

“…The inoculation of the two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, G. mosseae and G. intraradices, has been demonstrated to increase the uptake of K by maize crop (Wu et al 2005). Alves et al (2010) reported that the mycorrhizal colonization of Eucalyptus plants improves the plant height, shoot dry weight, root length, and phosphorus and potassium contents as compared to the control. In AM switch grass grown in acid soil, the acquisition of K was especially enhanced (Clark et al 1999).…”

“…In AM switch grass grown in acid soil, the acquisition of K was especially enhanced (Clark et al 1999). In Eucalyptus dunnii seedlings, the ectomycorrhizal fungi increase the efficiency of alkaline breccia as a source of P and K to the seedlings (Alves et al 2010). Ectomycorrhizal fungi actively forage for minerals and act as biosensors that discriminate between different grain sizes and minerals (Leake et al 2008).…”

Effects of CO₂ and O₃ on the interaction between root of woody plants and ectomycorrhizae

“…Most tree species create symbiotic relationships with ECM fungi to survive in diverse harsh conditions through an efficient nutrient uptake by ECM fungi (Nara et al 2003;Qu et al 2010;Chorianopoulou et al 2015). For instance, in nutrient impoverished soils, ECM fungi preferentially provide nutrients, like phosphorus (P), and water to the above-ground parts of the host trees rather than the direct absorption by the root tissues (Wallander 2000;Alves et al 2010;Chorianopoulou et al 2015). Therefore, ECM trees absorb more organic P and N than non-ECM trees, since ECM fungi produce ectoenzymes (van der Heijden and Sanders 2002; Choi et al 2005;White and Hammond 2008).…”