Influence of wood fibre substrates from different wood species on plant growth and the root colonising capability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Wood fibre substrates of three different wood species (pine - Pinus sylvestris, spruce - Picea abies and Douglas fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii) were commercially manufactured into substrates, chemically characterised and studied on plant growth and root colonisation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus intraradices. Plant growth was tested with seedlings of Chinese cabbage (Brassica cernua) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and effects on root colonisation by Glomus intraradices were studied with parsely (Petroselinum crispum) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). All three tested wood species are suitable for the use in substrate production as a peat substitute or supplement when fertilised appropriately to counteract microbial N-fixation without harmful effects to plant growth. The AMF Glomus intraradices showed a reduced root colonisation capability when grown in pine or Douglas fir based substrates suggesting a negative influence of some of the wood extracts from these species on spore germination or extraradical hyphal growth.