GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF SHOOTS, ROOTS, AND MYCORRHIZAL MYCELIUM IN CLONAL SITKA SPRUCE DURING THE 1ST GROWING-SEASON AFTER PLANTING

Rooted cuttings of 3 Picea sitchensis clones were grown out of doors in 2 m tall acrylic tubes of peat that projected from the tops of insulated boxes. Differences were found between clones in total shoot and root growth and in their periodicity, especially in the timing of the onset of root dormancy in the winter. No fine root death was observed over 7 months. Two of the clones were colonized by Thelephora terrestris but in a 3rd clone some plants were colonized by T. terrestris and others by Laccaria proxima. -from Authors