Comparative water relations of container-grown and bare-root ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizalQuercus velutinaseedlings

摘要

A 2ensp;times;ensp;2 factorial field experiment was conducted with black oak (Quercus velutina) to examine the effects of seedling production method (container-grown vs. bare-rooted) and inoculation withPisolithus tinctoriuson seedling water relations and soilndash;plant liquid flow resistance (Rs-P). Over the study period, bare-rooted and noninoculated seedlings exhibited midday values of leaf water potential (Psi;) which were lower than container-grown andPisolithus-inoculated seedlings. During a mild drought in July similar trends were seen in predawn Psi;. Flow resistance between bulk soil and leaf was lower in container-grown andPisolithus-inoculated plants than in bare-rooted and noninoculated plants;Rsndash;pwas particularly high in bare-rooted plants which were not inoculated withPisolithus. The exact mechanism(s) accounting for the differences inRsndash;pof mycorrhizal vs. nonmycorrhizal plants could not be ascertained by the techniques employed. LowRsndash;pin container-grown plants was associated with greater total root system length.