Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous inhabitants of soils, and they are involved in cyclin... more Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous inhabitants of soils, and they are involved in cycling elements such as phosphorus and carbon between soils and plants. However, the environmental factors determining their activity and community structure in different soils are still not fully understood. Here, a bioassay is presented to assess the infectivity of indigenous mycorrhizal communities in twenty soils sampled in
Plant and fungal partners in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis trade mineral nutrients for carbon,... more Plant and fungal partners in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis trade mineral nutrients for carbon, with the outcome of this relationship for plant growth and nutrition being highly context-dependent and changing with the availability of resources as well as with the specific requirements of the different partners. Here we studied how the model legume Medicago truncatula, inoculated or not with a mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, responded to a gradient of light intensities applied over different periods of time, in terms of growth, phosphorus nutrition and the levels of root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus. Short-term (6 d) shading, depending on its intensity, resulted in a rapid decline of phosphorus uptake to the shoots of mycorrhizal plants and simultaneous accumulation of phosphorus in the roots (most likely in the fungal tissues), as compared to the nonmycorrhizal controls. There was, however, no significant change in the levels of mycorrhizal colonization of roots due to short-term shading. Long-term (38 d) shading, depending on its intensity, provoked a multitude of plant compensatory mechanisms, which were further boosted by the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhizal growth-and phosphorus uptake benefits, however, vanished at 10% of the full light intensity applied over a long-term. Levels of root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus were significantly reduced by longterm shading. Our results indicate that even short periods of shade could have important consequences for the functioning of mycorrhizal symbiosis in terms of phosphorus transfer between the fungus and the plants, without any apparent changes in root colonization parameters or mycorrhizal growth response, and call for more focused research on temporal dynamics of mycorrhizal functioning under changing environmental conditions.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with plant roots providin... more Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with plant roots providing predominantly phosphorus in the form of orthophosphate (Pi) in exchange for plant carbohydrates on low P soils. The goal of this work was to generate molecular-genetic evidence in support of a major impact of the mycorrhizal Pi uptake (MPU) pathway on the productivity of the major crop plant maize under field and controlled conditions. Here we show, that a loss-of-function mutation in the mycorrhiza-specific Pi transporter gene Pht1;6 correlates with a dramatic reduction of above-ground biomass and cob production in agro-ecosystems with low P soils. In parallel mutant pht1;6 plants exhibited an altered fingerprint of chemical elements in shoots dependent on soil P availability. In controlled environments mycorrhiza development was impaired in mutant plants when grown alone. The presence of neighboring mycorrhizal nurse plants enhanced the reduced mycorrhiza formation in pht1;6 roots. Uptake of 33 P-labeled orthophosphate via the MPU pathway was strongly impaired in colonized mutant plants. Moreover, repression of the MPU pathway resulted in a redirection of Pi to neighboring plants. In line with previous results, our data highlight the relevance of the MPU pathway in Pi allocation within plant communities and in particular the role of Pht1;6 for the establishment of symbiotic Pi uptake and for maize productivity and nutritional value in low-input agricultural systems. In a first attempt to identify cellular pathways which are affected by Pht1;6 activity, gene expression profiling via RNA-Seq was performed and revealed a set of maize genes involved in cellular signaling which exhibited differential regulation in mycorrhizal pht1;6 and control plants. The RNA data provided support for the hypothesis that fungal supply of Pi and/or Pi transport across Pht1;6 affects cell wall biosynthesis and hormone metabolism in colonized root cells.
Mycorrhizal fungi interconnect two different kinds of environments, namely the plant roots with t... more Mycorrhizal fungi interconnect two different kinds of environments, namely the plant roots with the surrounding soil. This widespread coexistence of plants and fungi has important consequences for plant mineral nutrition, water acquisition, carbon allocation, tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses and interplant competition. Yet some current research indicates a number of important roles to be played by hyphae-associated microbes, in addition to the hyphae themselves, in foraging for and acquisition of soil resources and in transformation of organic carbon in the soil-plant systems. We critically review the available scientific evidence for the theory that the surface of mycorrhizal hyphae in soil is colonized by highly specialized microbial communities, and that these fulfill important functions in the ecology of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae such as accessing recalcitrant forms of mineral nutrients, and production of signaling and other compounds in the vicinity of the hyphae. The validity of another hypothesis will then be addressed, namely that the specific associative microbes are rewarded with exclusive access to fungal carbon, which would qualify them as hypersymbionts (i.e., symbionts of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi). Thereafter, we ask whether recruitment of functionally different microbial assemblages by the hyphae is required under different soil conditions (questioning what evidence is available for such an effect), and we identify knowledge gaps requiring further attention.
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a major problem for many people living on wheat-based diets. Here, we exp... more Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a major problem for many people living on wheat-based diets. Here, we explored whether addition of green manure of red clover and sunflower to a calcareous soil or inoculating a non-indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) strain may increase grain Zn concentration in bread wheat. For this purpose we performed a multifactorial pot experiment, in which the effects of two green manures (red clover, sunflower), ZnSO 4 application, soil c-irradiation (elimination of naturally occurring AMF), and AMF inoculation were tested. Both green manures were labeled with 65 Zn radiotracer to record the Zn recoveries in the aboveground plant biomass. Application of ZnSO 4 fertilizer increased grain Zn concentration from 20 to 39 mg Zn kg 21 and sole addition of green manure of sunflower to soil raised grain Zn concentration to 31 mg Zn kg 21 . Adding the two together to soil increased grain Zn concentration even further to 54 mg Zn kg 21 . Mixing green manure of sunflower to soil mobilized additional 48 mg Zn (kg soil) 21 for transfer to the aboveground plant biomass, compared to the total of 132 mg Zn (kg soil) 21 taken up from plain soil when neither green manure nor ZnSO 4 were applied. Green manure amendments to soil also raised the DTPA-extractable Zn in soil. Inoculating a nonindigenous AMF did not increase plant Zn uptake. The study thus showed that organic matter amendments to soil can contribute to a better utilization of naturally stocked soil micronutrients, and thereby reduce any need for major external inputs.
Slash-and-burn (SB) agriculture degrades soil and reduces fertility, but provides most of the foo... more Slash-and-burn (SB) agriculture degrades soil and reduces fertility, but provides most of the food produced in tropical Africa. Soil biota can be manipulated to enhance soil nutrient availability and fertility, and to improve plant tolerance to stress and diseases. The potential of beneficial micro-organisms (BM) such as mycorrhizal fungi (MF), legume-nodulating bacteria (LNB), phosphorous-solubilizing micro-organisms (PSM), and bio-control agents for
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
Given that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are not consistently beneficial to their host plants... more Given that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are not consistently beneficial to their host plants, it is difficult to explain the evolutionary persistence of this relationship. We tested the hypothesis that increasing either fungal or host biodiversity allows an AM fungus to persist on a host where it shows little benefit. We found that growing such a fungus (an isolate of Glomus custos associating with Plantago laceolata) in combination with certain fungi improved its success as measured by mtLSU DNA abundance. Increasing plant species richness facilitated the spread of this fungus as measured by spore density and fungal colonization; the role of host species richness was not as clear when looking at measures of root abundance. These results indicate that diversity in the AM symbiosis, both plant and fungal, can promote the persistence of low-quality fungi. By existing within a complex mycelial network fungal strains that show little growth benefit to their hosts have a better chance of persisting on that same host. This has the potential to promote selection for heterogeneous AM fungal communities on a small spatial scale.
The abundance, distribution and functions of soil fungi in alpine ecosystems remain poorly unders... more The abundance, distribution and functions of soil fungi in alpine ecosystems remain poorly understood. We aimed at linking the fungal community structure with soil enzymatic activities in the rhizospheres of several plants associating with mycorrhizal fungi (arbuscular, ecto-and ericoid) and growing along a soil developmental gradient on the forefield of an alpine glacier. Fungal communities in roots and in rhizosphere soils were assessed using a site-tailored set of quantitative PCR assays with fluorescent hydrolysis probes. Enzymatic activities of mycorrhizal roots and rhizosphere soils were assessed using fluorogenic substrates. In this study we addressed: i) whether and how the structure of fungal communities and enzymatic activities in rhizosphere soils change along the soil developmental gradient, ii) whether the type of mycorrhiza shows a clear relationship to the pattern of enzymatic activities in the rhizosphere, and iii) how the structure of fungal communities and enzymatic activities in rhizosphere soils is related to plant species abundances along the soil chronosequence. The results suggest that plant identity affected the structure of both ecto-and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in rhizosphere soil and roots, whereas the community of non-mycorrhizal fungi was rather dictated by the soil developmental stage. Both plant identity and associated mycorrhizal fungi affected the enzymatic activity in the rhizosphere soil. Species-specific elevations of rhizosphere enzyme activities were detected for Salix helvetica (chitinase and a-glucosidase), Rhododendron ferrugineum (a-glucosidase and sulfatase), and Agrostis gigantea (phosphatase and xylosidase). These results indicate different functional roles played by different types of mycorrhizal symbiosis in a young alpine ecosystem.
Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their beneficial effects on plants. ... more Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their beneficial effects on plants. However, there is increasing evidence that some ruderal plants, including several agricultural weeds, respond negatively to AMF colonization. Here, we investigated the effect of AMF on the growth of individual weed species and on weed-crop interactions.
Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among three species of arbuscular... more Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolated from a single field in Switzerland. Medicago truncatula was used as a test plant. It was grown in a compartmented system with root and root-free zones separated by a fine mesh. Dual radioisotope labeling ( 32 P and 33 P) was employed in the root-free zone as follows: 33 P labeling determined hyphal P uptake from different distances from roots over the entire growth period, whereas 32 P labeling investigated hyphal P uptake close to the roots over the 48 hours immediately prior to harvest. Glomus intraradices, Glomus claroideum and Gigaspora margarita were able to take up and deliver P to the plants from maximal distances of 10, 6 and 1 cm from the roots, respectively. Glomus intraradices most rapidly colonized the available substrate and transported significant amounts of P towards the roots, but provided the same growth benefit as compared to Glomus claroideum, whose Plant Soil (2011) 339:231-245 mycelium was less efficient in soil exploration and in P uptake and delivery to the roots. These differences are probably related to different carbon requirements by these different Glomus species. Gigaspora margarita provided low P benefits to the plants and formed dense mycelium networks close to the roots where P was probably transiently immobilized. Numerical modeling identified possible mechanisms underlying the observed differences in patterns of mycelium growth. High external hyphal production at the rootfungus interface together with rapid hyphal turnover were pointed out as important factors governing hyphal network development by Gigaspora, whereas nonlinearity in apical branching and hyphal anastomoses were key features for G. intraradices and G. claroideum, respectively.
Aims and Background Many plants preferentially grow roots into P-enriched soil patches, but littl... more Aims and Background Many plants preferentially grow roots into P-enriched soil patches, but little is known about how the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affects this response. Methods Lotus japonicus (L.) was grown in a low-P soil with (a) no additional P, (b) homogeneous P (28 mg pot −1 ), (c) low heterogeneous P (9.3 mg pot −1 ), and (d) high heterogeneous P (28 mg pot −1 ). Each P treatment was combined with one of three mycorrhiza treatments: no mycorrhizae, Glomus intraradices, indigenous AMF. Real-time PCR was used to assess the abundance of G. intraradices and the indigeneous AMF G. mosseae and G. claroideum. Results Mycorrhization and P fertilization strongly increased plant growth. Homogeneous P supply enhanced growth in both mycorrhizal treatments, while heterogeneous P fertilization increased biomass production only in treatments with indigenous AMF inoculation. Preferential root allocation into P-enriched soil was significant only in absence of AMF. The abundance of AMF species was similar in P-enriched and unfertilized soil patches.
Background and aims Many plant-beneficial microorganisms can influence secondary plant metabolism... more Background and aims Many plant-beneficial microorganisms can influence secondary plant metabolism, but whether these effects add up when plants are coinoculated is unclear. This issue was assessed, under field conditions, by comparing the early impacts of
When grown in soils with sparingly available phosphorus (P), white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) forms... more When grown in soils with sparingly available phosphorus (P), white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) forms special root structures, called cluster roots, which secrete large amounts of organic acids and concomitantly acidify the rhizosphere. Many studies dealing with the understanding of this P acquisition strategy have been performed in short time experiments either in hydroponic cultures or in small microcosm designs with sand or sand:soil mixtures. In the present study, we applied an experimental design which came nearer to the natural field conditions: we performed a one-year experiment on large microcosms containing 7 kg of soil and allowing separation of rhizosphere soil and bulk soil. We planted six successive generations of lupins and analysed P uptake, organic P desorption, phosphatase activities and organic acid concentrations in different soil samples along a spatio-temporal gradient. We compared the rhizosphere soil samples of cluster (RSC) and non-cluster roots (RSNC) as well as the bulk soil (BS) samples. A total shoot biomass of 55.69 ± 1.51 g (d.w.) y )1 was produced and P uptake reached 220.59 ± 5.99 mg y )1 . More P was desorbed from RSC than from RSNC or BS (P < 0.05). RSC and RSNC showed a higher activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases than BS samples and a higher acid phosphatase activity was observed in RSC than in RSNC throughout the one-year experiment. Fumarate was the most abundant organic acid in all rhizosphere soil samples. Citrate was only present in detectable amounts in RSC while malate and fumarate were recovered from both RSC and RSNC. Almost no organic acids could be detected in the BS samples. Our results demonstrated that over a one-year cultivation period in the absence of an external P supply, white lupin was able to acquire phosphate from the soil and that the processes leading to this P uptake took place preferentially in the rhizosphere of cluster roots.
Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among eight isolates of arbuscula... more Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among eight isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belonging to three Glomus species, all obtained from the same field site. Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Corso) was used as a test plant. Compartmented cultivation containers coupled with 33P radioisotope labeling of soil P were employed to estimate (1) the distance from the
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (A M F) communities were established in pots using fungal isolates ... more Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (A M F) communities were established in pots using fungal isolates from a single field in Switzerland. It was tested whether multispecies mixtures provided more phosphorus and supported greater plant growth than single A M F species.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous inhabitants of soils, and they are involved in cyclin... more Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous inhabitants of soils, and they are involved in cycling elements such as phosphorus and carbon between soils and plants. However, the environmental factors determining their activity and community structure in different soils are still not fully understood. Here, a bioassay is presented to assess the infectivity of indigenous mycorrhizal communities in twenty soils sampled in
Plant and fungal partners in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis trade mineral nutrients for carbon,... more Plant and fungal partners in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis trade mineral nutrients for carbon, with the outcome of this relationship for plant growth and nutrition being highly context-dependent and changing with the availability of resources as well as with the specific requirements of the different partners. Here we studied how the model legume Medicago truncatula, inoculated or not with a mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, responded to a gradient of light intensities applied over different periods of time, in terms of growth, phosphorus nutrition and the levels of root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus. Short-term (6 d) shading, depending on its intensity, resulted in a rapid decline of phosphorus uptake to the shoots of mycorrhizal plants and simultaneous accumulation of phosphorus in the roots (most likely in the fungal tissues), as compared to the nonmycorrhizal controls. There was, however, no significant change in the levels of mycorrhizal colonization of roots due to short-term shading. Long-term (38 d) shading, depending on its intensity, provoked a multitude of plant compensatory mechanisms, which were further boosted by the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhizal growth-and phosphorus uptake benefits, however, vanished at 10% of the full light intensity applied over a long-term. Levels of root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus were significantly reduced by longterm shading. Our results indicate that even short periods of shade could have important consequences for the functioning of mycorrhizal symbiosis in terms of phosphorus transfer between the fungus and the plants, without any apparent changes in root colonization parameters or mycorrhizal growth response, and call for more focused research on temporal dynamics of mycorrhizal functioning under changing environmental conditions.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with plant roots providin... more Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with plant roots providing predominantly phosphorus in the form of orthophosphate (Pi) in exchange for plant carbohydrates on low P soils. The goal of this work was to generate molecular-genetic evidence in support of a major impact of the mycorrhizal Pi uptake (MPU) pathway on the productivity of the major crop plant maize under field and controlled conditions. Here we show, that a loss-of-function mutation in the mycorrhiza-specific Pi transporter gene Pht1;6 correlates with a dramatic reduction of above-ground biomass and cob production in agro-ecosystems with low P soils. In parallel mutant pht1;6 plants exhibited an altered fingerprint of chemical elements in shoots dependent on soil P availability. In controlled environments mycorrhiza development was impaired in mutant plants when grown alone. The presence of neighboring mycorrhizal nurse plants enhanced the reduced mycorrhiza formation in pht1;6 roots. Uptake of 33 P-labeled orthophosphate via the MPU pathway was strongly impaired in colonized mutant plants. Moreover, repression of the MPU pathway resulted in a redirection of Pi to neighboring plants. In line with previous results, our data highlight the relevance of the MPU pathway in Pi allocation within plant communities and in particular the role of Pht1;6 for the establishment of symbiotic Pi uptake and for maize productivity and nutritional value in low-input agricultural systems. In a first attempt to identify cellular pathways which are affected by Pht1;6 activity, gene expression profiling via RNA-Seq was performed and revealed a set of maize genes involved in cellular signaling which exhibited differential regulation in mycorrhizal pht1;6 and control plants. The RNA data provided support for the hypothesis that fungal supply of Pi and/or Pi transport across Pht1;6 affects cell wall biosynthesis and hormone metabolism in colonized root cells.
Mycorrhizal fungi interconnect two different kinds of environments, namely the plant roots with t... more Mycorrhizal fungi interconnect two different kinds of environments, namely the plant roots with the surrounding soil. This widespread coexistence of plants and fungi has important consequences for plant mineral nutrition, water acquisition, carbon allocation, tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses and interplant competition. Yet some current research indicates a number of important roles to be played by hyphae-associated microbes, in addition to the hyphae themselves, in foraging for and acquisition of soil resources and in transformation of organic carbon in the soil-plant systems. We critically review the available scientific evidence for the theory that the surface of mycorrhizal hyphae in soil is colonized by highly specialized microbial communities, and that these fulfill important functions in the ecology of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae such as accessing recalcitrant forms of mineral nutrients, and production of signaling and other compounds in the vicinity of the hyphae. The validity of another hypothesis will then be addressed, namely that the specific associative microbes are rewarded with exclusive access to fungal carbon, which would qualify them as hypersymbionts (i.e., symbionts of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi). Thereafter, we ask whether recruitment of functionally different microbial assemblages by the hyphae is required under different soil conditions (questioning what evidence is available for such an effect), and we identify knowledge gaps requiring further attention.
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a major problem for many people living on wheat-based diets. Here, we exp... more Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a major problem for many people living on wheat-based diets. Here, we explored whether addition of green manure of red clover and sunflower to a calcareous soil or inoculating a non-indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) strain may increase grain Zn concentration in bread wheat. For this purpose we performed a multifactorial pot experiment, in which the effects of two green manures (red clover, sunflower), ZnSO 4 application, soil c-irradiation (elimination of naturally occurring AMF), and AMF inoculation were tested. Both green manures were labeled with 65 Zn radiotracer to record the Zn recoveries in the aboveground plant biomass. Application of ZnSO 4 fertilizer increased grain Zn concentration from 20 to 39 mg Zn kg 21 and sole addition of green manure of sunflower to soil raised grain Zn concentration to 31 mg Zn kg 21 . Adding the two together to soil increased grain Zn concentration even further to 54 mg Zn kg 21 . Mixing green manure of sunflower to soil mobilized additional 48 mg Zn (kg soil) 21 for transfer to the aboveground plant biomass, compared to the total of 132 mg Zn (kg soil) 21 taken up from plain soil when neither green manure nor ZnSO 4 were applied. Green manure amendments to soil also raised the DTPA-extractable Zn in soil. Inoculating a nonindigenous AMF did not increase plant Zn uptake. The study thus showed that organic matter amendments to soil can contribute to a better utilization of naturally stocked soil micronutrients, and thereby reduce any need for major external inputs.
Slash-and-burn (SB) agriculture degrades soil and reduces fertility, but provides most of the foo... more Slash-and-burn (SB) agriculture degrades soil and reduces fertility, but provides most of the food produced in tropical Africa. Soil biota can be manipulated to enhance soil nutrient availability and fertility, and to improve plant tolerance to stress and diseases. The potential of beneficial micro-organisms (BM) such as mycorrhizal fungi (MF), legume-nodulating bacteria (LNB), phosphorous-solubilizing micro-organisms (PSM), and bio-control agents for
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
Given that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are not consistently beneficial to their host plants... more Given that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are not consistently beneficial to their host plants, it is difficult to explain the evolutionary persistence of this relationship. We tested the hypothesis that increasing either fungal or host biodiversity allows an AM fungus to persist on a host where it shows little benefit. We found that growing such a fungus (an isolate of Glomus custos associating with Plantago laceolata) in combination with certain fungi improved its success as measured by mtLSU DNA abundance. Increasing plant species richness facilitated the spread of this fungus as measured by spore density and fungal colonization; the role of host species richness was not as clear when looking at measures of root abundance. These results indicate that diversity in the AM symbiosis, both plant and fungal, can promote the persistence of low-quality fungi. By existing within a complex mycelial network fungal strains that show little growth benefit to their hosts have a better chance of persisting on that same host. This has the potential to promote selection for heterogeneous AM fungal communities on a small spatial scale.
The abundance, distribution and functions of soil fungi in alpine ecosystems remain poorly unders... more The abundance, distribution and functions of soil fungi in alpine ecosystems remain poorly understood. We aimed at linking the fungal community structure with soil enzymatic activities in the rhizospheres of several plants associating with mycorrhizal fungi (arbuscular, ecto-and ericoid) and growing along a soil developmental gradient on the forefield of an alpine glacier. Fungal communities in roots and in rhizosphere soils were assessed using a site-tailored set of quantitative PCR assays with fluorescent hydrolysis probes. Enzymatic activities of mycorrhizal roots and rhizosphere soils were assessed using fluorogenic substrates. In this study we addressed: i) whether and how the structure of fungal communities and enzymatic activities in rhizosphere soils change along the soil developmental gradient, ii) whether the type of mycorrhiza shows a clear relationship to the pattern of enzymatic activities in the rhizosphere, and iii) how the structure of fungal communities and enzymatic activities in rhizosphere soils is related to plant species abundances along the soil chronosequence. The results suggest that plant identity affected the structure of both ecto-and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in rhizosphere soil and roots, whereas the community of non-mycorrhizal fungi was rather dictated by the soil developmental stage. Both plant identity and associated mycorrhizal fungi affected the enzymatic activity in the rhizosphere soil. Species-specific elevations of rhizosphere enzyme activities were detected for Salix helvetica (chitinase and a-glucosidase), Rhododendron ferrugineum (a-glucosidase and sulfatase), and Agrostis gigantea (phosphatase and xylosidase). These results indicate different functional roles played by different types of mycorrhizal symbiosis in a young alpine ecosystem.
Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their beneficial effects on plants. ... more Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their beneficial effects on plants. However, there is increasing evidence that some ruderal plants, including several agricultural weeds, respond negatively to AMF colonization. Here, we investigated the effect of AMF on the growth of individual weed species and on weed-crop interactions.
Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among three species of arbuscular... more Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolated from a single field in Switzerland. Medicago truncatula was used as a test plant. It was grown in a compartmented system with root and root-free zones separated by a fine mesh. Dual radioisotope labeling ( 32 P and 33 P) was employed in the root-free zone as follows: 33 P labeling determined hyphal P uptake from different distances from roots over the entire growth period, whereas 32 P labeling investigated hyphal P uptake close to the roots over the 48 hours immediately prior to harvest. Glomus intraradices, Glomus claroideum and Gigaspora margarita were able to take up and deliver P to the plants from maximal distances of 10, 6 and 1 cm from the roots, respectively. Glomus intraradices most rapidly colonized the available substrate and transported significant amounts of P towards the roots, but provided the same growth benefit as compared to Glomus claroideum, whose Plant Soil (2011) 339:231-245 mycelium was less efficient in soil exploration and in P uptake and delivery to the roots. These differences are probably related to different carbon requirements by these different Glomus species. Gigaspora margarita provided low P benefits to the plants and formed dense mycelium networks close to the roots where P was probably transiently immobilized. Numerical modeling identified possible mechanisms underlying the observed differences in patterns of mycelium growth. High external hyphal production at the rootfungus interface together with rapid hyphal turnover were pointed out as important factors governing hyphal network development by Gigaspora, whereas nonlinearity in apical branching and hyphal anastomoses were key features for G. intraradices and G. claroideum, respectively.
Aims and Background Many plants preferentially grow roots into P-enriched soil patches, but littl... more Aims and Background Many plants preferentially grow roots into P-enriched soil patches, but little is known about how the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affects this response. Methods Lotus japonicus (L.) was grown in a low-P soil with (a) no additional P, (b) homogeneous P (28 mg pot −1 ), (c) low heterogeneous P (9.3 mg pot −1 ), and (d) high heterogeneous P (28 mg pot −1 ). Each P treatment was combined with one of three mycorrhiza treatments: no mycorrhizae, Glomus intraradices, indigenous AMF. Real-time PCR was used to assess the abundance of G. intraradices and the indigeneous AMF G. mosseae and G. claroideum. Results Mycorrhization and P fertilization strongly increased plant growth. Homogeneous P supply enhanced growth in both mycorrhizal treatments, while heterogeneous P fertilization increased biomass production only in treatments with indigenous AMF inoculation. Preferential root allocation into P-enriched soil was significant only in absence of AMF. The abundance of AMF species was similar in P-enriched and unfertilized soil patches.
Background and aims Many plant-beneficial microorganisms can influence secondary plant metabolism... more Background and aims Many plant-beneficial microorganisms can influence secondary plant metabolism, but whether these effects add up when plants are coinoculated is unclear. This issue was assessed, under field conditions, by comparing the early impacts of
When grown in soils with sparingly available phosphorus (P), white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) forms... more When grown in soils with sparingly available phosphorus (P), white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) forms special root structures, called cluster roots, which secrete large amounts of organic acids and concomitantly acidify the rhizosphere. Many studies dealing with the understanding of this P acquisition strategy have been performed in short time experiments either in hydroponic cultures or in small microcosm designs with sand or sand:soil mixtures. In the present study, we applied an experimental design which came nearer to the natural field conditions: we performed a one-year experiment on large microcosms containing 7 kg of soil and allowing separation of rhizosphere soil and bulk soil. We planted six successive generations of lupins and analysed P uptake, organic P desorption, phosphatase activities and organic acid concentrations in different soil samples along a spatio-temporal gradient. We compared the rhizosphere soil samples of cluster (RSC) and non-cluster roots (RSNC) as well as the bulk soil (BS) samples. A total shoot biomass of 55.69 ± 1.51 g (d.w.) y )1 was produced and P uptake reached 220.59 ± 5.99 mg y )1 . More P was desorbed from RSC than from RSNC or BS (P < 0.05). RSC and RSNC showed a higher activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases than BS samples and a higher acid phosphatase activity was observed in RSC than in RSNC throughout the one-year experiment. Fumarate was the most abundant organic acid in all rhizosphere soil samples. Citrate was only present in detectable amounts in RSC while malate and fumarate were recovered from both RSC and RSNC. Almost no organic acids could be detected in the BS samples. Our results demonstrated that over a one-year cultivation period in the absence of an external P supply, white lupin was able to acquire phosphate from the soil and that the processes leading to this P uptake took place preferentially in the rhizosphere of cluster roots.
Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among eight isolates of arbuscula... more Diversity in phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies was assessed among eight isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belonging to three Glomus species, all obtained from the same field site. Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Corso) was used as a test plant. Compartmented cultivation containers coupled with 33P radioisotope labeling of soil P were employed to estimate (1) the distance from the
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (A M F) communities were established in pots using fungal isolates ... more Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (A M F) communities were established in pots using fungal isolates from a single field in Switzerland. It was tested whether multispecies mixtures provided more phosphorus and supported greater plant growth than single A M F species.
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