Evaluation of Ectomyccorrhizal Fungal Associates from Fraser Fir Habitats for Reforestation of Former Sites in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (Part II)

Baird, Richard; Smith, Ben; Frampton, John

Summary (2012) Site selection was determined after two trips of searching and site visits with GRSM personnel and an artificial bald at Mt. Buckley near Clingmans Dome was selected. The site had to be in fir prior to adelgid infestations in past, out of natural trails to avoid human disturbances, and open enough to avoid natural seeding by firs which would impact treatments. In June a preliminary planting of 250 seedlings was conducted to get an idea of work and efforts involved and to determine if spring might be the best time for planting. During July additional collections of fungi had to be made to ensure fresh inoculum of treatments were available for August planting. Stand count or survival data was obtained from the spring planting. In August approximately 1,200 seedlings were planted using seven select treatments. Stand count or survival data was gathered in Sept. and again in Oct. See the data below. Summary (2013) Site maintenance, spring planting, and data collections were the three main efforts conducted at the Mount Buckley field site in 2013. Site maintancence: With nutsedge and fern species abundance at the location, removal of the vegetation covering the plots was necessary and required monthly efforts beginning in July. Otherwise it would have been impossible to collect any data from a majority of plots. Other work involved relabeling of plots and securing stakes to the coco disc that lodged during winter. Spring planting: Planting was originally intended for May but had to be delayed until the first week of June due to seedlings coming out of cold storage not readied for planting. Approximately another 1,200 seedlings were planted using the same seven treatments plus control and seed families from the previous year. To evaluate the planting treatments, seedling health and their heights were determined in August, September and October (to be completed). In September, soil samples from within each plot near seedlings were obtained so that sequence data on mycorrhizal fungi survival can be determined back at Mississippi State University. This portion of the investigation is in progress and will not be completed until after January. Any mycorrhizal fungi observed within the plot area were noted. Only in September were 10 sporophores of Laccaria noblis present but they surrounding a large established fir tree present adjacent to the study area and no closer than 3.5 m to the nearest plot. Data analyses on seedling treatment survival are shown in the summary ANOVA tables below. After the two years of planting, significant results based on stand survival across both years showed that the planting date, and seed source (families) were highly significant based on ANOVA. However, cover type was surprising similar based on visible observations. Mycorrhizal inoculum treatments using two Laccaria spp. had a small percentage increase compared to the control plots. Even though not significant, locally collected seedling survival was numerically greater than the control and two inoculum applied treatments at approximately 20%. The collected soil used as planting inoculum had the same percent stand survival than the two inoculum treatments. Height data between treatments varied but only around 0.5 in difference between treatments. When heights were compared between seed sources differences were up to one in. Faster growth to get above the cover, which includes nutsedge and ferns, will be critical to future survival of the seedlings in this study. Stand survival and fungal occurrence data will be collected in 2014 to complete the study.

Evaluation of Ectomyccorrhizal Fungal Associates from Fraser Fir Habitats for Reforestation of Former Sites in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (Part II)

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