Observations of Mycorrhizal Inoculation of Pin and Scarlet Oak Production In Containers

Proper protocol for mycorrhizal inoculation of container grown landscape trees is uncertain. Therefore, vegetative and commercial spore inoculum of Pisolithus tinctorius were applied to Quercus palustris (pin oak) and Q. coccinea (scarlet oak) seedlings. All plants were grown in containers filled with 0.9 liters of milled pine bark, sterilized milled pine bark, sterilized mineral soil, or sterilized vermiculite-based substrate. After two months, mycorrhizal colonization rates were assessed qualitatively. Vegetative inoculum was completely unsuccessful at infecting seedlings in all substrates. The commercial spore inoculum colonized pin oak at a higher rate than scarlet oak, and vermiculite-based substrate proved superior then the other three substrates for inoculating seedlings with commercial Pt spores.