Effectiveness of Single and Combined Ectomycorrhizal Inocula on Three Species of Pinus at Nursery

The objective of this study was to determine individual and combined inoculation effects with ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) (Amanita muscaria, AM; Suillus luteus, SL; and Amanita sp., AS) on seedling growth and P uptake of Pinus patula, P. oocarpa , and P. tecunumanii . Beneficial effects of ectomycorrhizal inoculation depended on the plant species × inoculum combinations. In the case of P. patula, the benefit was evident only in P uptake and this occurred only when the three fungi were concomitantly applied. In P. tecunumanii, the effects were associated not only with P uptake but also with plant growth and not only with the triple inoculation but also with the individual (AS) and dual (AM + AS) inoculations. In P. oocarpa, AS inoculation enhanced both plant growth and P uptake, while AM inoculation only improved plant growth; triple and dual inoculation (SL+AM and SL+AS) also increased plant growth but not P uptake.