Colonization of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) plantlets by ericoid mycorrhizae under nursery conditions

Abstract

R. Carrillo, J. Guerrero, M. Rodríguez, and C. Meriño-Gergichevich. 2015. Colonization of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plantlets by ericoid mycorrhizae under nursery conditions. Cien. Inv. Agr. 42(3): 365-374. The ericoid mycorrhiza is a symbiotic interaction that contributes to the improvement of the establishment and production of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The objectives of this paper were to assess the frequency (%) and intensity (%) of the colonization and growth of blueberry plantlets inoculated with ericoid mycorrhizae collected from three different edaphoclimatic conditions in the La Araucanía region of southern Chile under nursery conditions. Plantlets of three blueberry cultivars ("Brigitta", "Duke" and "Legacy") were grown under nursery conditions in sterile peat moss and a vermiculite substrate with fresh ericoid mycorrhizae propagules from Gaultheria pumila (collected in Villarrica National Park), Azalea sp., (from an urban garden in Temuco) or V. corymbosum cv. "Brigitta" (from an organic farm in Temuco). After six months, the development of hyphae characteristic of ericoid micorrhizal fungi was identified in root cells. The frequency and intensity of colonization was greater in the "Duke" cv. given the inoculum derived from V. corymbosum, followed by the "Brigitta" and "Legacy" cultivars treated with inoculum from the G. pumila inoculum. Colonization was lowest in those plants treated with the Azalea sp. inoculum. Contact between the inoculum sources and the fine roots of the micro-propagated blueberry plantlets under nursery conditions for six months was an effective method to promote mycorrhization. However, the development of mycorrhizae did not enhance the growth of the three blueberry cultivars during the evaluation period. The possibility of selecting ericoid inocula from site-specific conditions in southern Chile may eventually be used to support the micro-propagation of blueberry plantlets during acclimation and planting, assuming that mycorrhizal plants will improve conditions for establishment in the field.

Colonización por micorrizas en la producción de plántulas en vivero de arándano (Vaccinium spp.) cv Biloxi

“…es un grupo de plantas frutales que pertenece a la familia Ericaceae y constituyen un grupo de especies ampliamente distribuidas en el Hemisferio Norte, específicamente Norteamérica, Europa Central y Eurasia, encontrándose también en América del Sur, algunas especies en África y Madagascar. La mayor parte de las variedades de arándano que se cultivan en el mundo son del tipo alto del norte provenientes de Vaccinium corymbosum principalmente y son de alto requerimiento de horas frio (Carrillo et al, 2015). Recientemente en México han introducido cultivares del tipo alto del sur con requerimientos bajos de frio.…”

“…Es conocido que las plantas de la familia Ericaceae, se caracterizan por establecer simbiosis con micorrizas, sobre todo las llamadas micorrizas ericoides, que le confieren a las plantas de esta familia la habilidad de colonizar suelos nutricionalmente pobres y ambientes donde el anegamiento es frecuente en invierno (Carrillo et al, 2015). Para que la colonización tenga lugar es necesario que las raíces de las plantas tomen contacto con las hifas de los hongos Cranberries (Vaccinium spp.)…”

“…is a group of fruit plants belonging to the Ericaceae family and constitute a group of widely distributed species in the Northern Hemisphere, specifically North America, Central Europe and Eurasia, also found in South America, some species in Africa and Madagascar. Most of the varieties of cranberry cultivated in the world are of the northern high type of Vaccinium corymbosum and have a high requirement of cold hours (Carrillo et al, 2015). Recently southern high type cultivars have been introduced in Mexico with lower cold requirements.…”

“…It is known that the plants of the Ericaceae family are characterized by symbiosis with mycorrhizae, especially the so-called ericoid mycorrhizae, which give the plants of this family the ability to colonize nutritionally poor soils and environments where waterlogging is frequent in winter (Carrillo et al, 2015). In order for the colonization to take place, it is necessary for the plants roots to contact the mycorrhizal fungi hyphae but also for the medium or substrate to be suitable for this contact, as suggested by Scagel et al (2005) (2015) en Sudáfrica aislaron también dos especies de ericáceas Lachunuem sp y Cadaphora sp de especies de Ericaceas e inocularon plántulas de arándanos con relativo éxito.…”

“…In order for the colonization to take place, it is necessary for the plants roots to contact the mycorrhizal fungi hyphae but also for the medium or substrate to be suitable for this contact, as suggested by Scagel et al (2005) (2015) en Sudáfrica aislaron también dos especies de ericáceas Lachunuem sp y Cadaphora sp de especies de Ericaceas e inocularon plántulas de arándanos con relativo éxito. En Chile, los arándanos cultivados del tipo altos del norte han sido tratados con inoculo de micorrizas importadas de USA y su efectividad es limitada, por ello Carrillo et al (2015) utilizaron fuentes de inóculo nativo de Gaultheria pumila, Azalea sp. y V. corymbosum obteniendo una mejor actividad con G. pumila.…”