Soil properties and mycorrhizae in teak plantations (Tectona grandis L.f.) of Costa Rica

Abstract

This study relates soil properties to micorrhizae occurrence in 41 teak plantations under different bioclimatic conditions around Costa Rica. Forty three percent of the teak plantations showed poor mycorrhizae development, and some sites have very low spore counts in the soil. The correlation between spore counts and infection percentages and soil properties showed high values only when soils with pH lower than 5.5 were considered. Correlation values were higher between soil variables and infection percentages than with spore counts, reflecting that the infection process is affected more by soil acidity than the survival of spores in the soil, as well as that soil acidity is negatively affecting root development, fungal growth, or both.