Articles
Rootstock effect on soil ecology in a young peach orchard
Article number
1228_40
Pages
265 – 272
Language
English
Abstract
Peach tree short life (PTSL) is a disease complex impacted by many factors, including choice of rootstock and inherent changes in the rhizosphere.
The effect of six genetically diverse peach rootstocks on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil microbial respiration (SMR), net nitrogen mineralization (NNM), and endomycorrhizal fungal colonization of peach roots was studied in a peach orchard in the second leaf at the Sandhills Research Station in North Carolina, USA. The research was conducted in an orchard planted as part of the NC-140 Regional Rootstock Research Project.
Slight differences between rootstocks in MBC and SMR were apparent in the fall, but were not related to rootstock species parentage.
In the spring, soil at the dripline of Krymsk® 1 rootstock had the highest SMR, while in the fall, soil around Empyrean® 2 (aka Penta) had the highest SMR and Krymsk® 1 had the lowest.
Microbial respiration changes between seasons and rootstocks may be a function of the microbial ecology of the rootstocks rhizosphere or a symptom of failing peach tree health. ControllerTM 5 and VikingTM had the highest endomycorrhizal root colonization while Guardian® and Empyrean® 2 had the lowest.
The Guardian® rootstocks purported resistance to PTSL and its tolerance of nematodes do not appear to be related to greater association with mycorrhizal fungi.
The effect of six genetically diverse peach rootstocks on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil microbial respiration (SMR), net nitrogen mineralization (NNM), and endomycorrhizal fungal colonization of peach roots was studied in a peach orchard in the second leaf at the Sandhills Research Station in North Carolina, USA. The research was conducted in an orchard planted as part of the NC-140 Regional Rootstock Research Project.
Slight differences between rootstocks in MBC and SMR were apparent in the fall, but were not related to rootstock species parentage.
In the spring, soil at the dripline of Krymsk® 1 rootstock had the highest SMR, while in the fall, soil around Empyrean® 2 (aka Penta) had the highest SMR and Krymsk® 1 had the lowest.
Microbial respiration changes between seasons and rootstocks may be a function of the microbial ecology of the rootstocks rhizosphere or a symptom of failing peach tree health. ControllerTM 5 and VikingTM had the highest endomycorrhizal root colonization while Guardian® and Empyrean® 2 had the lowest.
The Guardian® rootstocks purported resistance to PTSL and its tolerance of nematodes do not appear to be related to greater association with mycorrhizal fungi.
Publication
Authors
C.L. Fisk, C. Tu, D.F. Ritchie, M.L. Parker, G.L. Reighard
Keywords
Prunus persica, rhizosphere, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
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