Seedling growth and ectomycorrhizal colonization of Pinus patula and P. radiata inoculated with spores of Helvella lacunosa, Russula brevipes or Lycoperdon perlatum

Seedling growth and ectomycorrhizal colonization of Pinus radiata and P. patula seedlings growing in nursery containers with two application rates of spores of 3 different ectomycorrhizal fungi,Helvella lacunosa, Russula brevipes and Lycoperdon perlatum, was evaluated at 5 and 12 months . At 5 months of growth P. patula was less susceptible than P. radiata to colonization by fungi and percentaage of ectomycorrhizal feeder roots was lower in all treatments . Growth response (either volume or top dry weight)to treatments was different among pines species . A significant seedling growth response was observed after 5 months in both pine species with the double rate of spores of either H. lacunosa or L. perlatum ; this response was sustained in P. patula at 12 months with Helvella only. P. radiata seedlings inoculated with the double rate of spores of R . brevipes showed a significant growth response at 12 months .