EctomycorrhizalfungusLaccariabicolorS238N,isolatedfromaforestsoilincentralFrancein1990s,hasdemonstratedunequivocallyandabilitytopromotepinegrowth.Inthepresentnurserybedexperiment,theabilityofthisectomycorrhizalfungustoincreasegrowthandPandKuptakeofDouglasFirseedlings(Zone22)wasexamined.Growthofinoculatedseedlingswasovertwice(plantheight)andthreetimes(biomass)thatofnon-inoculatedones.Similarly,boththeconcentrationsandtheamountsofPandKuptakebyseedlingsweresignificantlyincreasedbyfungalinoculation,indicatingtheimprovementofPandKnutritioninmycorrhizalseedlings.Incontrast,Al-Pinthesoilswasdecreasedobviouslybyplants,especiallybymycorrhizas,suggestingutilizationofthissoilPpoolbyplantsandmoreefficientAl-Pmobilizationbymycorrhizasthanbynomycorrhizas.Moreover,Kextractedby1mol/LHClfollowingconsecutiveextractionofH2OandCH3COONH4,whichmaynotbeplantavailable,couldbeutilizedbyfunguscoloniedroots.ThiscouldbeexplainedbythereleaseofprotonsandoxalatebyhypaewhichleadstoreplacementofinterlayerKinnonexpanded2:1claymineralsandbio-weatheringofphyllosilicates.
