In order to select woody plant candidates suitable for revegetation of saline-alkaline soils, we tested selected woody plant species and seed lots: Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine), Pinus banksiana (jack pine), Picea glauca (white spruce), Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen), and Alnus rubra, syn. Alnus oregona (red alder). Pre-germinated seedlings were grown for 4 weeks in a greenhouse in a semi-hydroponic system containing 1/2 strength Hoagland solution with additional sodium concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75 mM) and composite tailings release water. A significant interaction between salt treatments and seed lots within plant species as well as between salt treatments and plant species was observed for weight and necrosis, indicating that the plant genotype responded differently to salt treatments. Of all examined woody plant species, jack pine (Syncrude seed source) exhibited the highest percent survival followed by white spruce (Syncrude seed source), red alder (seed lot No. 40457), and lodgepole pine (seed lot No. 7960007). Proportionately ranked means for dry biomass production showed lodgepole pine (seed lot No. 7960007) with the greatest biomass followed by aspen (seed lot No. Syncrude), red alder (seed lot No. Port Renfrew), jack pine (seed lot No. 8960049) and white spruce (Syncrude seed source). The best performing seed lots based on aggregation index which combines both the percent survival and dry weight averages were: red alder (seed lot Nos. 40457 and 45958), aspen (Syncrude seed source), jack pine (Syncrude seed source), lodgepole pine (seed lot No. 7960007). Based on variance components, most of the variation was explained by the treatment and seed lot effects. This reveals the importance of intra-specific variability and that selection should be based not only on inter-specific variation but also on the intra-specific variation for the development of salt-tolerant lines to be used in reclamation of saline habitats. #

To identify appropriate species of ectomycorrhizal fungi for use in the reclamation of saline-alkaline sites, such as the composite tailings (alkaline, with high sodium, sulfate, and calcium) produced by the Canadian tar sands industry, pure cultures of nine fungal species indigenous to the Canadian boreal forest were grown on media containing different levels of CaCl 2 , CaSO 4 , NaCl, or Na 2 SO 4 , as well as on medium containing composite tailings (CT) release water, and on media at four different pH levels. Members of the Boletales ( Suillus brevipes , Rhizopogon rubescens , and Paxillus involutus ) and Amphinema byssoides (Aphyllophorales) were sensitive to alkalinity, and their growth was completely inhibited by CT release water. Laccaria and Hebeloma spp. (Agaricales) as well as Wilcoxina mikolae (Pezizales) were tolerant to alkalinity and survived on the medium containing CT release water. Calcium chloride proved to be the most toxic of the salts tested. Growth of seven isolates of Laccaria bicolor and three isolates of Hebeloma crustuliniforme on media containing CaCl 2 and release water showed low intraspecific variation. A combination of fungal species, each with its own beneficial characteristics, is recommended for the inoculation of seedlings to be outplanted onto composite tailings.