Phenotypic and Growth Stage Development Data of a Quercus robur Mycorrhization Experiment

In this experiment, we investigated the inoculation-effects of two ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) species with contrasting evolutionary histories, ecological properties, host-preferences, and habitat-ranges on phenotypic responses and growth dynamics of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), an ecologically and economically important temperate forest tree species.

We set up the mycorrhization experiment using 96 plants of a genetically uniform Q. robur clone (DF159) and applied four treatments: A control treatment; an inoculation-treatment with the cosmopolitan Ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum, which is commonly found in oak forests; an inoculation-treatment with the Basidiomycete Piloderma croceum, which has not yet been found in natural oak forests but has been shown in previous experiments to support oak growth; and a co-inoculation treatment. We then assessed growth stage development of the trees over eight experimental weeks and measured various phenotypic traits during a destructive sampling.