Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the growth-promoting effects of five different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) single species treatments on Echinacea purpurea. Forty-two echinacea seedlings were inoculated with one each of five different AMF species and grown outside for 12 weeks. Photosynthetic rates were measured at the eight-week period. Samples were harvested and divided into above- and belowground biomass after 12-weeks. Total leaves were counted, leaf area was calculated, above- and belowground biomass was weighted, and root to shoot ratios were determined. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted on all data collected. Three of the five AMF species were shown to have significant (P= .0025, ANOVA) growth-promoting effects on the belowground biomass only. The responses of echinacea to AMF single species treatments suggests that there may be potential horticultural applicability.
How to Cite
Downing, A., (2020) “Growth Response of Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) to Five Single Species Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Treatments”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 33(1).
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