Arbutoid mycorrhizae were synthesized between adult selectedclones of Arbutus unedo L. and Pisolithus arhizus. Two micropropagatedclones were tested: AL1, in vitro and C1 (acclimatized plants)in nursery and later in a field trial. In vitro, rooted shoots were transferredto test tubes containing the substrate previously inoculated withmycelium cultured on agar. In the nursery, two inoculation treatmentswere tested (vegetative inocula or dry sporocarps) and compared to controlplants. In the field trial, plants from nursery inoculation treatmentswere compared and an additional control treatment using seedlings wasimplemented. Plant height was evaluated 4 months later in the nurseryand 20 months later in the field trial. Roots were examined by morphologicaland histological studies: a) in vitro plantlets one month afterinoculation and nine months after acclimatization; and b) 20 months afterthe field trial was established. Arbutoid mycorrhizae were observed invitro one month after inoculation, indicating compatibility between A.unedo and P. arhizus. These showed the presence of a mantle, Hartig net,and intracellular hyphal complexes confined to the epidermal root cells.Arbutoid mycorrhizae were also observed nine months after acclimatiza-Fund project: This work was supported by a PhD fellowship(SFRH/BD/37170/2007) from the Portuguese Foundation for Scienceand Technology (FCT)The online version is available at http://link.springer.comFilomena Gomes ( ) • Esteban San MartinFilomena Gomes. CERNAS, Dep. Recursos Florestais, Escola SuperiorAgrária Coimbra, Bencanta, 3040-316, Coimbra, Portugal, Tel: 351 239802940, Fax: 351 239 802979, Email: fgomes@esac.ptHelena MachadoINIAV, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, IP.,Av. República, Quinta do Marquês 2780-159 Oeiras, PortugalA. Portugal • Jorge M. CanhotoCentre of Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Universityof Coimbra, Ap. 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.Corresponding editor: Chai Ruihaition in inoculated and control plants. In order to confirm the identity ofmycorrhizae, molecular techniques were used, in previously inoculated invitro plants, 12 months after acclimatization. Thelephora and Hebelomamycorrhizae, two types of highly competitive and widespread mycorrhizaeon nurseries were identified. In the nursery, dry sporocarptreatment improved plant height after four months. In a field trial (20months later), plants growth did not show significant differences. By thistime, mycorrhized roots with Cenococcum geophilum and other typeswere identified. These results and their implications on A. unedo breedingprogram are discussed.
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