INOCULATION OF YOUNG CRANBERRY AND BLUEBERRY PLANTS WITH FUNGI ISOLATED FROM POLISH ECOSYSTEMS

We evaluated the response of North American blueberry and cranberry cultivars growing in Europe to fungi isolated from roots of plants belonging to Ericaceae growing in natural sites of Poland.
The response of micropropagated plantlets to mycorrhizal fungi was determined morphologically and physiologically.
Both plant genera reacted differently to investigated inocula.
In general, shoot growth of young blueberry plants was stimulated by inoculation and growth of cranberry horizontal shoots was inhibited.
Inoculation slightly increased leaf area of blueberry and cranberry.
Inoculation of blueberry plants decreased maximal photochemical activity (Fv/Fm) but enhanced the amount of light energy converted into chemical forms, determined by the quenching coefficient qP. Maximal photochemical activity (Fv/Fm) of young cranberry plants increased after inoculation but photochemical quenching decreased.
The protective role of mycorrhizal fungi to photosynthetic apparatus was significant in late winter, when dormancy was completed.

IX International Vaccinium Symposium

B. Borkowska, D. Krzewinska

Vaccinium corymbosum (L.), V. macrocarpon Ait., ericoid mycorrhiza, growth, chlorophyll fluorescence

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.810.91