Peat carrier increases inoculation success with Frankia on red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) in fumigated nursery beds

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00037550
• Publication Date: 2004-11-03T08:43:15Z
• Authors: K. J. Martin; Y. Tanaka; D. D. Myrold

Inoculation trials were set up in fumigated nursery beds for red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) bare-root seedling production. Frankia inoculum was applied either as nodule homogenate or as pure culture (strain ArI5). The plots were laid out in 4 blocks of 8 treatments consisting of: control, nodule suspension, and three levels each of cell suspension and cells applied with a peat carrier. Numbers, height, and percentage nodulation on the seedlings were determined at mid-season. Numbers, size, dry weights, and degree of nodulation were determined at lifting. The peat inoculum treatment produced larger seedlings than the other treatments, both at mid-season and at lifting. The other treatments had little effect on growth. Size differences paralleled differences in degree of nodulation. Differences in percentage of seedlings nodulated were most pronounced at midseason, indicating that inoculation confered primarily an early-season advantage.