9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
[MIS03-02] A trial study on application of symbiotic fungi for planting of beech seedlings in the abandoned cropland around Komado-Shitsugen wetland, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Keywords:Abandoned agricultural land, Beech forest, Komado-Shitsugen wetland, Reforestation, Symbiotic fungi
In the area around the Komado-Shitsugen wetlands, located in southern Fukushima Prefecture, more than 50 ha of abandoned agricultural land exists. In this area, the secondary beech forest was reclaimed to cropland in 1950s and abandoned by 2000. Reforestation activity started from 2000; however, planted beech trees in some grasslands have been shown poor growth. Previous studies focusing on microbes have shown that symbiotic fungi that support the growth of beech trees are scarce in this area, comparing to forest soils around the abandoned area. The aim of this study was to examine the vegetation and soil environment of the abandoned land with a focus on local microbes, and to conduct planting trials using selected symbiotic fungi supposed to support the growth of beech seedlings, and to obtain comprehensive knowledge on the use of symbiotic fungi for the regeneration of beech forests.
We studied symbiotic fungi associated with beech in different vegetation such as forest area, transit area and grassland area by observation of the number of ectomycorrhizal root tips in soil and colonization of ectomycorrhizal roots of the seedlings and isolation of symbiotic fungi from roots of the seedlings. As the results, the number and variation of morphotypes of ectomycorrhiza tended to decrease from forest area to grassland area. This result indicated the lack of abundance of ectomycorrhiza fungi in grassland area related to the poor growth of planted beech trees. We obtained 97 fungal isolates from surface-sterilized beech roots and selected 2 fungal isolates (the root endophytic fungus Leptodontidium sp. and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum) which supposedly associated with root both in forest and grassland area. To facilitate the growth of planted beech trees, we prepared fungal inoculums using these isolates, applied it to the young root of beech seedlings separately, and planted in the grassland area.
From the second year after planting, the length of main stem elongation was greater in the symbiotic fungi inoculated area than in the control area. The results of the microbial community structure analysis did not reveal a clear effect of inoculation on the microbial dynamics, but suggested the benefit of selecting symbiotic fungi for use in tree-planting under abandoned conditions. In the observation in June 2024, seven years after planting, growth tended to be better in the C. geophilum area, although there was only a slight difference in growth between three treatments.
We studied symbiotic fungi associated with beech in different vegetation such as forest area, transit area and grassland area by observation of the number of ectomycorrhizal root tips in soil and colonization of ectomycorrhizal roots of the seedlings and isolation of symbiotic fungi from roots of the seedlings. As the results, the number and variation of morphotypes of ectomycorrhiza tended to decrease from forest area to grassland area. This result indicated the lack of abundance of ectomycorrhiza fungi in grassland area related to the poor growth of planted beech trees. We obtained 97 fungal isolates from surface-sterilized beech roots and selected 2 fungal isolates (the root endophytic fungus Leptodontidium sp. and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum) which supposedly associated with root both in forest and grassland area. To facilitate the growth of planted beech trees, we prepared fungal inoculums using these isolates, applied it to the young root of beech seedlings separately, and planted in the grassland area.
From the second year after planting, the length of main stem elongation was greater in the symbiotic fungi inoculated area than in the control area. The results of the microbial community structure analysis did not reveal a clear effect of inoculation on the microbial dynamics, but suggested the benefit of selecting symbiotic fungi for use in tree-planting under abandoned conditions. In the observation in June 2024, seven years after planting, growth tended to be better in the C. geophilum area, although there was only a slight difference in growth between three treatments.