Summary
Three Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. clones, obtained by in vitro propagation techniques, were inoculated with four strains of Frankia. The ability of these clones to nodulate and fix nitrogen was previously reported; this study deals with the performance of 12 different combinations of pairs of symbionts.
Shoot fresh weight, shoot height and collar diameter were measured 60 and 82 days after inoculation. Shoot fresh weight seems to be more sensitive and reliable than the other parameters. Nitrogenase activity, measured by the acetylene reduction assay, was assayed 78 days after inoculation and was consistent with the biomass measurements.
Better growth was observed when type N strains were used. Significant growth differences were observed between clones AG-2 and AG-8 on the one hand and clone AG-4 on the other. Thus, the use of genetically defined host plants and micro symbionts permitted the demonstration of significant performance variation even among cloned plants from the same provenance (AG-4 and AG-8).
The duration of the experiment influenced the results with differences becoming less significant with time. This might be caused by an external limiting factor such as the pot size, competition for light, etc. But it could also be indicative of differences in nodulation speed among the treatments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bajuk L A, Gordon J C and Promnitz L C 1978 Greenhouse evaluation of the growth potential of Alnus glutinosa clones. Iowa State J. Res. 52, 341–349.
Bond G 1983 Taxonomy and distribution of non-legume nitrogen-fixing systems. In Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Forests Ecosystems: Foundations and Applications. Eds. J C Gordon and C T Wheeler. Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, pp 55–87.
Dawson J O, Sun S-H 1981 The effect of Frankia isolates from Comptonia peregrina and Alnus cripsa on the growth of Alnus glutinosa, A. cordata and A. incana clones. Can. J. For. Res. 11, 758–762.
Dobereiner J 1980 Forage grasses and grain crops. In Methods for Evaluating Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Ed. F J Bergensen, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. pp 535–555.
Gordon J C and Wheeler C T 1978 Whole plant studies on photosynthesis and acetylene reduction in Alnus glutinosa. New Phytol 80, 179–186.
Hall R B and Maynard C A 1979 Considerations in the genetic improvement of alder. In Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in the Management of Temperate Forests. Eds. J C Gordon, C T Wheeler and D A Perry. Oregon State University, Corvallis, pp 322–344.
Lalonde M 1979 Techniques and observations of the nitrogen fixing Alnus root nodule symbiosis. In Recent Advances in Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Ed. N S Subba Rao. Oxford and IBH Publ. Co. p 421–434.
Lalonde M, Calvert H E 1979 Production of Frankia hyphae and spores as an infective inoculant for Alnus species. In Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in the Management of Temperate Forests. Eds. J C Gordon, C T Wheeler and D A Perry. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR pp 95–110.
Nesme X, Normand P, Tremblay F M and Lalonde M 1985 Nodulation speed of Frankia sp. on Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh. and Myrica gale L. Can. J. Bot. (In press).
Normand P, Lalonde M 1982 Evaluation of Frankia strains isolated from provenances of two Alnus species Can. J. Microbiol. 28, 1133–1142.
Périnet P, Lalonde M 1983 In vitro propagation and nodulation of the actinorhizal host plant Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. Plant Sci. Lett. 29, 9–17.
Tarrant R F and Trappe J M 1971 The role of Alnus in improving the forest environment. Plant and Soil Spec. Vol. 335–348.
Tremblay F M, Lalonde M 1984 Requirements for in vitro propagation of seven nitrogen- fixing Alnus species. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture 3, 189–199.
Silvester W B 1983 Analysis of nitrogen fixation.In Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Forest Ecosystems: Foundations and Applications. Eds. J C Gordon and C T Wheeler. Martinus Nihoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, pp 173–212.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Simon, L., Stein, A., Côté, S., Lalonde, M. (1985). Performance of in vitro propagated Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. clones inoculated with Frankiae . In: Lalonde, M., Camiré, C., Dawson, J.O. (eds) Frankia and Actinorhizal Plants. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 18. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5147-1_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5147-1_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8777-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5147-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive