Abstract:
Plant–mycorrhizal interaction is an important association in the ecosystem with significant
impacts on the physical, biological and chemical properties of the soil. In the present study,
potential relationships that exist between organic acid production by ectomycorrhizal pine
seedlings and plant parameters in the absence of any significant environmental stress were
investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate the contribution of organic acid
production to plant growth. Four different ectomycorrhizal fungi were used in a mycorrhizal
synthesis experiment to colonise roots of Pinus patula. Ectomycorrhizal and nonectomycorrhizal
plants were used in a pot trial experiment that lasted for 24 weeks. After
harvesting, plant materials as well as soil samples underwent different analyses, which
included the determination of pH, organic acids, plant biomass, and foliar and root
phosphorus and potassium. The results indicated a significant interaction (P < 0.0001) between fungal type and organic acid production. This reflects the influence of fungal type on
organic acid production. However, it was observed that organic acids secreted into the soil do
not have a direct link to the quantity of nutrients detected in either the root or shoot, but
seemed to positively influence plant growth as reflected in the result from root and shoot
biomass.
