The effect of mycorrhizal inoculum on the growth of five native tree species and the invasive Chinese Tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum)

Mycorrhizal fungi may play an important role in plant invasions, but few studies have tested this possibility. Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum) is an invasive tree in the southeastern United States. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation, fungicide application, and fertilization on the growth of Sapium and five native tree species (Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus taeda, Quercus alba, and Q. nigra) that co-occur in forests in the Big Thicket National Preserve in east Texas. Seedlings were grown in a greenhouse for twenty weeks under full factorial combinations of mycorrhizal inoculum, fungicide, and fertilizer. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased Sapium growth but caused zero to negative growth changes of the five native species. This suggests that Sapium may gain unusual benefits from mycorrhizal associations. Liquidambar styraciflua benefitted from mycorrhizal inoculation only in fertilized conditions which indicates that the potential advantage Sapium might gain from mycorrhizal associations may vary with native species and soil fertility.

The effect of mycorrhizal inoculum on the growth of five native tree species and the invasive Chinese Tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) Conference Paper