Identification and physiological significance of mycorrhizal associations of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)

Abstract

study was established by the NC-140 group in spring 1980 at sites in 18 states. The purpose of the planting was to enable comparative evaluation of selected rootstocks in the various environmental regimes. The planting provided an opportunity to obtain soil samples documented with site history including soil type, soil fertility, and past vegetation, and root samples documented with uniform nursery propagation. The samples are integrally involved in all sections of this dissertation. Analyses of the samples are presented in Section I of this dissertation. Section II reports differential colonization and efficacy of some survey collected fungal species in association with apple seedlings. This study is indebted to the members of the NC-140 committee for their cooperation, both in allowing their sites to be sampled, and in providing background information about each site. During the course of this study, the author was supported by a graduate research assistantship provided through the Department of Horticulture.