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The use of Pisolithus albus found in saline areas to improve the growth of Eucalyptus seedlings under high salinity conditions

By Asst. Prof. Dr. Tharnrat Kaewgrajang and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nisa Leksungnoen

Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forest Biology, Kasetsart University

Salinity is an abiotic factor limiting plant fitness and therefore forest crop productivity, and salt-affected areas have been expanding throughout the world. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can improve the salt tolerance of woody plants, including Eucalyptus species. To screen for salt-resistant Pisolithus albus (PA) isolates, 16 PA isolates were cultivated on modified Melin-Norkrans agar containing NaCl at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and 30 dS m^-1. The P. albus isolate PA33 had the greatest salt resistance under 10 and 20 dS m^-1 NaCl, which are soil salinity levels in salt-affected areas of Thailand. We studied the effect of PA33 on Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. pellita cuttings under salt stress (0 and 16 dS m^-1) for 1 month.

PA enhanced the growth of the Eucalyptus seedlings, as indicated by higher relative growth rates in height and root collar diameter of inoculated seedlings compared with non-inoculated seedlings. Moreover, the inoculated seedlings had less cell damage from NaCl, as indicated by significantly lesser leaf thickness and electrolyte leakage than the controls.

These findings could lead to practices conferring socioeconomic and environmental benefits, as abandoned salt-affected areas could be reclaimed using such Eucalyptus seedlings inoculated with salt-tolerant ECM fungi.

Key words Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. pellita; Pisolithus albus; salinity

Citation

Wanroon R, Leksungnoen N, Kaewgrajang T. 2024. The use of Pisolithus albus found in saline areas to improve the growth of Eucalyptus seedlings under high salinity conditions. Mycologia 116(5): 629-641.

Read more

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38959131/