The effect of soil type, liming, and mycorrhizal inoculum on American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
Faculty Advisor Name
Heather Griscom
Description
American ginseng (Panax quiquefolius) is a perennial herb that is threatened or endangered throughout most of its range, due to overharvesting for its medicinal properties and high profit. Restrictions have led to the cultivation of the plant. It has been successfully cultivated both in artificial shade and in forested environments with natural canopies. With a commercial AMF inoculum, American Ginseng may have a better survival rate when cultivated, decreasing the need to harvest natural stands of Ginseng. This study aims to examine inoculum success (i.e. infection) in several soil types, as well as inoculum effect on the plant health. If the use of commercial inoculum is successful in American Ginseng across different soil types, it may have implications not only for cultivation but for the conservation of American Ginseng. The more success cultivation has, the less likely it will be that natural stands of American Ginseng are harvested. Commercial inoculum may also have potential use in re-establishing American Ginseng in natural habitat. This greenhouse study examines how soil type (2 levels), liming (2 levels), inoculation (2 levels), autoclaving (control 2-levels) affect plant growth. Two distinct soil types were collected from the field. Stratified American ginseng seeds were planted in cone-tainers in a regulated greenhouse system in a factorial design, with fifteen cone-tainers for each treatment combination. At 7 months seedlings were measured for root length, stem length, leaflet width, above-ground biomass, and percent inoculation. Root lengths were significantly greater in treatments with lime and inoculation (mean= 117.2 p-value<0.001) compared with plants without lime and inoculation (mean=72.9). Stem lengths were significantly greater in treatments with lime and inoculation (mean=59, p-value<0.001) when compared with plants that were not (mean=52). In addition to lime and inoculation, soil type had an effect on stem length (p-value<0.001). Liming and inoculation combined had a greater effect in poorer soils on both root length and stem length. This indicates that liming and inoculation can help the plant allocate nutrients to the roots and the stem, even in nutrient poor soil. P. quinquefolius intentionally inoculated with commercial mycorrhizal fungi could yield larger crops.
The effect of soil type, liming, and mycorrhizal inoculum on American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
American ginseng (Panax quiquefolius) is a perennial herb that is threatened or endangered throughout most of its range, due to overharvesting for its medicinal properties and high profit. Restrictions have led to the cultivation of the plant. It has been successfully cultivated both in artificial shade and in forested environments with natural canopies. With a commercial AMF inoculum, American Ginseng may have a better survival rate when cultivated, decreasing the need to harvest natural stands of Ginseng. This study aims to examine inoculum success (i.e. infection) in several soil types, as well as inoculum effect on the plant health. If the use of commercial inoculum is successful in American Ginseng across different soil types, it may have implications not only for cultivation but for the conservation of American Ginseng. The more success cultivation has, the less likely it will be that natural stands of American Ginseng are harvested. Commercial inoculum may also have potential use in re-establishing American Ginseng in natural habitat. This greenhouse study examines how soil type (2 levels), liming (2 levels), inoculation (2 levels), autoclaving (control 2-levels) affect plant growth. Two distinct soil types were collected from the field. Stratified American ginseng seeds were planted in cone-tainers in a regulated greenhouse system in a factorial design, with fifteen cone-tainers for each treatment combination. At 7 months seedlings were measured for root length, stem length, leaflet width, above-ground biomass, and percent inoculation. Root lengths were significantly greater in treatments with lime and inoculation (mean= 117.2 p-value<0.001) compared with plants without lime and inoculation (mean=72.9). Stem lengths were significantly greater in treatments with lime and inoculation (mean=59, p-value<0.001) when compared with plants that were not (mean=52). In addition to lime and inoculation, soil type had an effect on stem length (p-value<0.001). Liming and inoculation combined had a greater effect in poorer soils on both root length and stem length. This indicates that liming and inoculation can help the plant allocate nutrients to the roots and the stem, even in nutrient poor soil. P. quinquefolius intentionally inoculated with commercial mycorrhizal fungi could yield larger crops.
