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Date of Graduation
Summer 2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Biology
Advisor(s)
Heather Griscom
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are fungi that form symbiotic associations with 70-90% of plant families. They are known to allow for the extension of the root system as well as an increase in plant size by assisting with the uptake of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The role that AMF play in plant health and success has led to the development of commercial inoculum, which is used in agricultural settings. However, soil fertility, and soil amendments are known to affect AMF and plant associations. This study intends to look at how cultivated American Ginseng seedlings are affected by commercial inoculum. This greenhouse study examines how soil type (2 levels), liming (2 levels), and inoculation (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 seven months, seedlings were measured for root length, stem length, leaflet width, above-ground biomass, and percent infection Additionally, roots of American Ginseng plants planted in Rowlesburg, WV in a field plot design were examined for arbuscular mycorrhizal association while spores from this field site were counted and quantified. Liming had greatest effect on most parameters including root length, stem length, leaf width, and leaf length (p
Recommended Citation
Murray, Emily Ann, "The combined effects of soil fertility and soil amendments on the growth and mycorrhizal associations of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)" (2018). Masters Theses, 2010-2019. 544.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/544
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons
