丛枝菌根网络对不同喀斯特适生植物生长及氮摄取的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)能够通过菌丝体在不同的植物个体间形成公用菌根网(Common mycorrhizal networks,CMN)。针对喀斯特生境中不同植物个体间通过CMN调控营养分配和生物性状的问题,本研究选择了喀斯特生境3种不同的适生植物作为研究对象,模拟自然环境构建微生态系。试验设置同位素供体室和受体室,供体隔室种植香樟并进行同位素~(15)N标记,受体隔室种植不同生长型植物香樟、构树和鬼针草;利用20μm(M~+)和0.45μm尼龙网(M~-)对受体隔室进行处理,同位素~(15)N标记供体植物香樟根系,测定受体植物幼苗叶片δ~(15)N值、植株氮摄取量、生物量以及生长性状指标。试验结果表明:(1)M~+处理的3种受体植物叶片δ~(15)N值分别显著高于M~-处理;同时M~+处理显著提高了香樟幼苗地上、地下部分及植株总氮摄取量,构树和鬼针草的氮摄取量在不同处理间差异未达到显著水平。(2)M~+处理显著提高了香樟地上、地下和总生物量,但对构树没有显著影响;M~+处理下香樟幼苗株高、地径及叶面积和鬼针草幼苗株高、地径分别显著高于M~-处理,但构树在M~+和M~-处理间没有显著差异。(3)M~+处理的香樟幼苗根系平均直径、根长,根表面积和根体积分别显著高于M~-处理,但M~+处理的构树幼苗则显著降低。研究表明,微生态系中丛枝菌根网CMN非平衡性地影响了不同植物个体的氮摄取及植物生长性状,CMN更有利于提高与供体植株为同一物种的受体香樟叶片δ~(15)N、植株N摄取量以及促进其生物量积累和苗木根系生长。     

亚精胺和丛枝菌根真菌对黄瓜生长的影响

以黄瓜品种‘津春2号’为材料,在育苗基质中添加亚精胺(Spd)和丛枝菌根真菌(AMF),研究外源Spd和AMF对黄瓜幼苗生长、光合作用、果实产量和品质以及根际微生物和酶活性的影响.结果表明:育苗基质中同时添加Spd和AMF,可促进黄瓜幼苗生长,提高根系活力和果实产量,改善品质,并促进养分吸收;Spd和AMF提高黄瓜幼苗净光合速率、实际光化学效率、表观量子效率、羧化效率和光呼吸速率,增加基质中细菌和放线菌数量,而降低真菌数量,并提高蔗糖酶、中性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶的活性.说明育苗基质中同时添加Spd和AMF,可提高黄瓜植株光能利用效率,促使黄瓜幼苗根际微生物区系从低肥力的"真菌型"向高肥力的"细菌型"转化,加速有机磷和有机态氮的分解与转化,为黄瓜生长发育提供比较充足的N、P等养分,从而促进黄瓜植株生长,提高产量并改善品质.Spd可提高AMF侵染率,两者对黄瓜幼苗生长具有明显的叠加效应,说明在接种AMF的基质中添加Spd,是一种可增强AMF侵染率的有效方法.     

胶州湾滨海湿地枯落物分解过程中枯落物-土壤养分动态

通过为期52 d的室内实验模拟胶州湾滨海湿地米草、碱蓬、芦苇枯落物的分解过程,测定枯落物及土壤中有机碳(TOC)、氮(N)和磷(P)含量,研究枯落物分解过程中枯落物-土壤养分的动态变化。结果表明:52 d的分解过程中,米草、碱蓬和芦苇枯落物碳损失分别占初始总碳含量的24.44%、74.20%和49.75%;土壤中碳发生净积累;米草枯落物中氮发生净积累,碱蓬枯落物中氮发生净释放,芦苇枯落物中氮先积累后释放,后两者枯落物氮损失分别占初始总氮含量的37.93%和4.81%;土壤中氮发生净积累;枯落物和土壤中磷均表现为净释放,米草、碱蓬和芦苇枯落物磷损失分别占初始总磷含量的42.37%、59.27%和28.48%;枯落物-土壤系统中C、N、P的动态变化与枯落物和土壤性质密切相关,这主要是由微生物的活性和养分需求决定的。     

Nitrogen addition overrides the effects of Stellera chamaejasme litter on the growth of Leymus chinensis and its associated mycorrhizal fungi

氮添加掩盖了狼毒凋落物对羊草生长及其菌根真菌的影响 退化草地上迅速蔓延、生长的有毒植物能产生大量的凋落物,而氮输入能促进有毒植物的生长, 并改变其根际微生物特别是丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的特征。然而,有毒植物的凋落物如何影响可食牧草的生长及其根际AMF,N沉降是否以及如何介导这些影响,目前尚不清楚。本文在中国东北的草甸草原上进行了温室实验以检验添加狼毒(Stellera chamaejasme)凋落物和氮素对优势植物羊草(Leymus chinensis) 的生长、AMF和土壤特征的影响。结果表明,添加凋落物显著增加了羊草分株数、地上生物量和土壤速效磷(AP)浓度,并降低了AMF孢子密度。然而,凋落物与氮素的交互作用并未显著影响羊草和AMF。狼毒凋落物通过提高AP对羊草产生正效应,并结合土壤养分平衡与凋落物诱导的化感成分的变化对AMF产生负效应。另外,高氮添加能缓解土壤的氮限制并抑制凋落物分解,从而减缓凋落物对羊草和AMF的影响。上述结果表明,除了关注有毒植物对家畜的有害作用外,还应客观地、全面地评价有毒植物的生态功能;同时,氮沉降应作为预测退化草地有毒植物与可食植物的种间关系的一项重要指标。     

The interspecific competition presents greater nutrient facilitation compared with intraspecific competition through AM fungi interacting with litter for two host plants in karst soil

AM 真菌和枯落物互作下两种喀斯特植物种间竞争较种内竞争更能促进植物养分利用 枯落物是植物养分获取和土壤养分转化的关键载体。丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizae, AM)对植物养分摄取的影响已被广泛认知。然而，在养分亏缺的喀斯特生境中，不同竞争方式的植物如何通过AM真菌和枯落物利用养分尚不清楚。本研究对两种喀斯特适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)和云贵鹅耳枥(Carpinus pubescens)进行种内竞争和种  间竞争种植处理，并通过幼套球 囊霉(Glomus etunicatum)接种或不接种处理，以及土壤中添加或不添加两物种叶片混合枯落物处理，测定了植物生物量以及氮、磷、钾浓度等指标，研究植物的生长和养分利用。研究结果表明，AM真菌对两种植物养分摄取影响不同，AM真菌显著提高了种内和种间竞争下构树的养分摄取量，但降低了云贵鹅耳枥的养分摄取量。种间竞争下接种AM真菌，枯落物添加促进了云贵鹅耳枥对氮的摄取，抑制了构树对氮的摄取。接种AM真菌和添加枯落物条件下，种间竞争的构树对氮、磷和钾的摄取量及云贵鹅耳枥对氮的摄取量均高于种内竞争；种间竞争下两物种养分竞争力呈现明显差异，即构树对磷和钾养分竞争力显著提高，对氮则不显著；云贵鹅耳枥仅对钾的养分竞争力显著降低，对氮和磷则无显著影响。这些结果说明，在AM真菌与枯落物相互作用下，两种喀斯特植物种间竞争较种内竞争更能促进植物养分利用。     

冬小麦生境中土壤养分对凋落物碳氮释放的影响

土壤养分影响植物生长, 进而影响凋落物质量和产量; 凋落物质量和产量影响凋落物分解过程。基于一个生长实验和一个相同环境分解实验, 研究了冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)生境中养分可利用性对凋落物碳(C)和氮(N)释放的影响。结果显示: (1)冬小麦凋落物产量、叶/根C:N比、C释放量和N释放量随土壤养分梯度呈单调变化; (2)土壤养分影响叶凋落物丢失率而不影响根凋落物丢失率; (3)初始叶/根C:N比与其C、N释放量之间存在负相关关系; (4)分解过程降低叶C:N比和根C:N比。结果表明: 生境中土壤养分的提高可加速凋落物C、N归还, 这反过来可能促进冬小麦生长, 因此这种效应是正反馈; 初始C:N比可预测凋落物C、N释放量。     

铜尾矿白羊草各生长阶段根际土壤丛枝菌根真菌群落特征

以北方铜业铜矿峪矿十八河尾矿坝主要恢复植被白羊草为研究对象，分析重金属污染环境下，白羊草不同生长阶段根际土壤中丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi，AMF）群落结构与多样性的变化特征，研究各生长阶段白羊草AMF群落结构与环境因子的相互关系。结果发现，白羊草不同生长阶段根际土壤的理化性质和酶活性均存在显著差异。白羊草各生长阶段根际土壤中具有相同的优势科球囊霉科，但AMF群落组成在各个生长阶段的结构存在明显不同。白羊草各生长阶段主要AMF物种对生态因子的响应表现为：幼苗期根际土壤中球囊霉科主要受土壤养分和碳氮比的影响，分蘖期根际土壤中多样孢囊霉科的主要影响因子为土壤pH，成熟期根际土壤中，双型囊霉科双型囊霉科与土壤过氧化氢酶显著相关，类球囊霉科与土壤脲酶显著正相关。总体看来，白羊草各生长阶段根际土壤AMF群落特征受到的生态因子影响具有明显差异。这有助于进一步认识污染环境下AMF的群落特征及其关键影响因子，为铜尾矿生态恢复过程中发掘和利用菌种资源提供科学依据，从而提高矿区生态修复效率。     

当归不同生长时期根际丛枝真菌分布及土壤养分和酶活性的动态变化

【目的】探讨当归不同生长时期丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)的分布及土壤养分和土壤酶活的变化,以期了解当归不同生长时期AMF与土壤养分和土壤酶活的关系,为AMF在当归种植的应用提供理论依据。【方法】在当归不同生长时期分别采集根际土壤样品,测定其土壤养分、土壤酶活、AMF孢子密度和球囊霉素等因子,分析当归不同生长时期根际土壤AMF孢子密度、土壤养分和土壤酶活等指标的动态变化和相关性。【结果】随着当归生育期的完成,根际土壤AMF孢子密度先降低后持续升高;易提取球囊霉素(Easily extractable glomalin,EEG)和总球囊霉素(Total glomalin,TG)平稳增加,而且EET与TG和脲酶活性呈显著正相关(P0.01),EET和TG与根际土壤有机质和全氮含量以及酸性和中性磷酸酶活性均显著正相关(P0.05);根际土壤有机质和全氮表现为增加的总趋势;有效磷含量呈现为生长前期保持不变、中期显著降低、后期逐渐升高的趋势,而有效钾含量先逐渐增加,生长中后期显著降低的趋势;根际土壤酸性和中性磷酸酶活性均呈现逐渐增加趋势,而脲酶活性表现为生长前期逐渐增加,中后期显著降低;p H值在当归不同生长时期有所波动。相关性分析结果表明,AMF孢子密度与土壤酸性磷酸酶酶活性呈显著正相关,而酸性磷酸酶酶活性与根际土壤全氮、有机质、易提取球囊霉素和总球囊霉素呈显著正相关,与有效磷和有效钾含量呈显著负相关,表明AMF对根际土壤养分和酶活性具有一定的调节作用;主成分分析结果表明,不同生长时期是影响当归根际土壤理化指标的主要因素。【结论】AMF孢子密度在当归根际的动态变化一定程度上反映出了AMF分泌球囊霉素的能力,以及球囊霉素对增加根际土壤碳氮储存的贡献,同时表明球囊霉素影响了当归根际土壤酶活性和其它养分的代谢循环,对改良土壤和促进当归生长发挥重要的作用。     

典型农田土壤中丛枝菌根真菌-根际细菌互作及与氮磷利用的关系

在农业生态系统中,土壤微生物是土壤-作物系统养分循环的重要驱动力,其中丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscularmycorrhizalfungi,AMF)能够促进作物对养分的吸收,适应逆境胁迫。【目的】进一步揭示AMF和根际细菌群落的跨界网络互作,挖掘与作物氮磷利用显著相关的关键微生物类群,揭示关键类群的生态网络特征。【方法】利用Illumina测序技术对3种典型农田旱地土壤(黑土、潮土和红壤)中AMF和根际细菌群落结构进行分析;构建互作网络并利用偏冗余分析、相关性分析探究了与氮磷利用相关的潜在关键类群。【结果】3种土壤中AMF与根际细菌均以正相互作用为主。不同土壤中AMF与根际细菌互作关系差异明显,在红壤中跨界互作最为密切,其中球囊霉属真菌(Glomus)与根际细菌中的放线菌(Actinobacteria)和变形菌(Proteobacteria)之间的交互作用最多。而在黑土中主要体现为根际细菌的界内互作。与氮磷利用率显著相关的关键微生物类群主要属于球囊霉属真菌、放线菌和α变形菌。【结论】典型旱地土壤中AMF与根际细菌的正相互关系对作物氮磷利用有潜在促进作用,关键类群在有机质和养分贫乏的红壤中可能起到更重要的作用。     

香樟凋落叶分解对辣椒及土壤氮营养的限制作用

香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)凋落叶分解能够明显干扰受体植物的生长、生殖、光合生理和活性氧代谢。该研究继续采用盆栽试验,探讨了不同量[0(对照)、25、50和100g]的香樟凋落叶添加到土壤(10kg/盆)中对受体植物辣椒(Capsicum annuum)及其土壤氮营养状况的影响,外源氮(尿素)输入对凋落叶分解的交互作用,以及凋落叶分解效应的产生是否因为其较高的C/N比而导致微生物争氮。结果显示:(1)各剂量(25~100g/盆)凋落叶处理下,辣椒幼苗硝态氮、可溶性蛋白和全氮含量均在至少2个月内大幅显著降低。(2)土壤硝态氮与辣椒硝态氮、全氮间均具有极显著的协同下降趋势;土壤微生物生物量氮则在总体上高于对照,而土壤全氮和铵态氮的响应较小。(3)施氮不仅使辣椒各氮组分和土壤硝态氮含量整体提升,还使凋落叶分解在这些指标上的抑制作用显著减弱。(4)香樟凋落叶的初始C/N为125.61±4.89,其在土壤中分解48~137d后的C/N始终远高于Hodge假说指出的可导致微生物争氮的临界值,但经过分解120d和135d的凋落叶添加到土壤中并不抑制辣椒的生长。研究认为,香樟凋落叶分解初期可能释放了不利于土壤硝化过程的物质,造成土壤硝态氮匮乏,以致受体植物的氮素吸收和积累减少,而凋落叶较高的C/N比及土壤微生物争氮并非主导因素。     

Mycorrhizal Networks Interacting with Litter Improves Nutrients and Growth for One Plant through the Vary of N/P Ratio under Karst Soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi affect nutrient uptake for host plants, while it is unclear how AM fungi interacting with soil litter affect plant growth and nutrient utilization through mycorrhizal networks in karst soil of deficient nutrients beyond the rhizosphere. An experiment was conducted in a microcosm composed of a planting compartment for Cinnamomum camphora seedlings with or without Glomus mosseae fungus (M⁺ vs. M⁻ ) and an adjacent litter compartment containing or not containing additional litter material of Arthraxon hispidus (L⁺ vs. L⁻ ), where the compartments are connected either by nylon mesh of 20 μm or 0.45 μm which either allow available mycorrhizal networks within the litter compartment or prevent mycelium entering into the litter compartment (N⁺ vs. N⁻ ). Plant biomass and nutrients were measured. The results showed that the addition of litter changed the symbiotic process in mycorrhizal colonization, spore, and hyphal density, which when in association with the host plant then affected the biomass, and accumulations of N (nitrogen) and P (phosphorus) in the individual plant as well as root, stem, and leaf respectively. AM fungi increased N and P accumulations and N/P ratio in individual plants and plant tissues. A decrease of the N/P ratio of the individual plant was observed when AM fungus interacted significantly with litter through mycorrhizal networks in the litter compartment. The results indicate that the C. camphora seedlings benefited from litter in nutrient utilization of N and P through the vary of N/P ratio when accessing mycorrhizal networks. These findings suggest that mycorrhizal networks interacting with litter improve growth and nutrients of N and P for plants through the vary of N/P ratio in order to alleviate nutrient limitation under karst soil.     

西双版纳热带次生林中的丛枝菌根调查

对西双版纳热带次生林中13个科的26种植物根系的丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular mycorrhizal fongii,AMF）侵染情况进行了研究,并从这些植物的根围土壤中分离鉴定了隶属于球囊霉属（Clomus）、巨孢囊霉属（Gigaspora）、盾巨孢囊霉属（Scutellospora）和无梗囊霉属（Acaulospora）的11种丛枝菌根真菌。该地次生林中AMF的孢子密度为13—29个／100g土壤,平均为19个;种的丰富度在4．9之间（平均为6）;平均频度为53．8％;相对多度为3．2％-26．5％;物种多样性指数和均匀度指数分别为0．94和0．93。丛枝菌根的侵染率达到44．8％．57．2％（平均为50．9％）;球囊霉属（Glomus）和无梗囊霉属（Acattlospora）是热带次生林根围土壤中菌根真菌的优势类群。     

西藏高原天然长芒草地丛枝菌根真菌接种效应

采用草地均匀打孔方法,就草地土壤未消毒条件下接种丛枝菌根（AM）真菌对长芒草(Stipa bungeana)的侵染效应以及对植物生长、吸磷效率、土壤微生物区系等的影响进行研究.结果表明,1)接种处理、不接种处理的菌根效应存在着明显的差异,多数接种处理根围土壤AM真菌孢子密度、菌根侵染率和侵染强度显著提高,但对丛枝丰度的影响相对较低.2)接种后AM真菌孢子密度对菌根侵染率具有极显著影响(r=0.7679**);随菌根侵染率的增加,植株总干物重和吸磷总量均呈极显著提高,r值分别为0.7556**、0.8018**.3)与植株地上部相比,接种AM真菌对提高根系干物重、根系吸磷量和含磷量的促进作用相对较大.4)多数接种处理根际土壤酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶活性均呈一定程度的提高,根际土壤细菌数量显著增加,真菌、放线菌的数量变化则不甚明显.5)各接种处理对寄主植物的综合侵染效应在总体上呈Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices+Scutellospora calospora＞G. mosseae+G. aggregatum＞Glomus sp.＞G. mosseae＞G. mosseae+ G. etunicatum+G. intraradices+S. erythropa＞G. geosporum的趋势.     

钦州湾红树林丛枝菌根初步研究

海漆 (Excoecaria agallocha)、桐花树 (Aegiceras corniculatum)、秋茄 (Kandlia candel)、白骨壤 (Avi-cennia marina)是钦州湾分布广、生长量大的 4种红树植物 ,该项研究初步调查了丛枝菌根真菌在这四种植物根系的定居情况。在这四种植物的根际土壤均分离到丛枝菌根真菌孢子 ,其孢子密度以海漆根际的最高 ,其次为桐花树、秋茄、白骨壤。同时 ,海漆根系的侵染率和物种丰富度也最高 ,但在所取的白骨壤根样中没有观察到丛枝菌根的侵染。菌根侵染主要是以根内菌丝、胞内菌丝膨大扭曲、泡囊等形态出现。海水和土壤质地是影响菌根侵染率的主要因素。在所采土样中仅发现球囊霉属 (Glomus)、无梗囊霉属 (Acaulospora)丛枝菌根真菌 ,计有 1 7种和多个未确定种。     

樟根生产法培育的苗与常规苗的丛枝菌根真菌多样性

以湖南省林业科学院龙伏实验基地的3年生樟根生产（root production method,RPM）苗和同龄常规技术培育的苗木（以下简称常规苗）为研究对象,采集两种苗木的根系和根际土,观察根系上菌根形态,并对其苗木样品进行高通量测序研究,探索二者根系菌根特征及根系、根际土丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）群落结构及土壤微生境差异,旨在为进行接种有效性菌根苗木来改善常规苗木的土壤微生境,进而培育高质量苗木提供理论依据。结果显示：2种樟苗木根系均显示AM菌根特征,未见外生菌根结构。测序得到属于AMF群落的有效序列共25 738条,隶属1门,2纲,3目,5科,5属,按有效序列占比从高到低依次为Acaulospora、Glomus、Diversispora、Rhizophagus和Paraglomus。根生产法（RPM）苗和常规苗的优势属均为Acaulospora和Glomus,只是RPM苗中Glomus占比高（在根、根际土内占比分别为28.04%、57.36%）而常规苗中Acaulospora占比高（在根、根际土内占比分别为99.58%、42.2%）。2种苗木均是根际土内的丰富度指数（Ace和Chao）远高于根系,并且RPM苗根际土的丰富度指数高于常规苗,但二者根系内的丰富度指数无显著差异（P<0.05）。冗余分析结果显示,土壤pH和有效磷是决定AMF群落结构的主要影响因子。不同理化因子对AMF群落的菌属影响程度也不同。     

An arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus significantly modifies the soil bacterial community and nitrogen cycling during litter decomposition

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) perform an important ecosystem service by improving plant nutrient capture from soil, yet little is known about how AMF influence soil microbial communities during nutrient uptake. We tested whether an AMF modifies the soil microbial community and nitrogen cycling during litter decomposition. A two‐chamber microcosm system was employed to create a root‐free soil environment to control AMF access to ¹³C‐ and ¹⁵N‐labelled root litter. Using a 16S rRNA gene microarray, we documented that approximately 10% of the bacterial community responded to the AMF, Glomus hoi. Taxa from the Firmicutes responded positively to AMF, while taxa from the Actinobacteria and Comamonadaceae responded negatively to AMF. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that AMF may influence bacterial community assembly processes. Using nanometre‐scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) we visualized the location of AMF‐transported ¹³C and ¹⁵N in plant roots. Bulk isotope ratio mass spectrometry revealed that the AMF exported 4.9% of the litter ¹⁵N to the host plant (Plantago lanceolata L.), and litter‐derived ¹⁵N was preferentially exported relative to litter‐derived ¹³C. Our results suggest that the AMF primarily took up N in the inorganic form, and N export is one mechanism by which AMF could modify the soil microbial community and decomposition processes.     

Plant neighbor effects mediated by rhizosphere factors along a simulated aridity gradient

Aims

We investigated how rhizosphere factors (total rhizosphere, roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae [AMF], and soil solution) and water availability affect interactions between neighboring Medicago sativa plants.

Methods

A three-compartment mesocosm was used to test the effects of rhizosphere factors on plant–plant interactions. A relative interaction index (RII) was calculated to indicate whether effects of neighbor plant on target plant were positive or negative (facilitative or competitive). Isotope tracers were used to test whether AMF hyphae mediated competition for nitrogen (N) between target and neighbor plants.

Results

The effects of rhizosphere factors on the interactions between neighboring M. sativa plants depended on water availability. The effects of total rhizosphere shifted RII from negative to positive as water availability increased. Interaction with the roots and rhizosphere soil solution of neighbor plants shifted RII from negative to positive as water availability increased but the opposite was true for AMF hyphae. AMF hyphae helped neighbor plants compete for ¹⁵N when water was available but not when water was limiting.

Conclusions

The effect of total rhizosphere on plant–plant interaction of M. sativa shifted from competitive to facilitative as water availability increased. Competition was reduced by neighboring soil solution and roots but was increased by AMF hyphae.     

The symbiotic recapture of nitrogen from dead mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots of tomato plants

Aims

The aim was to quantify the nitrogen (N) transferred via the extra-radical mycelium of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices from both a dead host and a dead non-host donor root to a receiver tomato plant. The effect of a physical disruption of the soil containing donor plant roots and fungal mycelium on the effectiveness of N transfer was also examined.

Methods

The root systems of the donor (wild type tomato plants or the mycorrhiza-defective rmc mutant tomato) and the receiver plants were separated by a 30 μm mesh, penetrable by hyphae but not by the roots. Both donor genotypes produced a similar quantity of biomass and had a similar nutrient status. Two weeks after the supply of ¹⁵?N to a split-root part of donor plants, the shoots were removed to kill the plants. The quantity of N transferred from the dead roots into the receiver plants was measured after a further 2 weeks.

Results

Up to 10.6 % of donor-root ¹⁵N was recovered in the receiver plants when inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). The quantity of ¹⁵N derived from the mycorrhizal wild type roots clearly exceeded that from the only weakly surface-colonised rmc roots. Hyphal length in the donor rmc root compartments was only about half that in the wild type compartments. The disruption of the soil led to a significantly increased AMF-mediated transfer of N to the receiver plants.

Conclusions

The transfer of N from dead roots can be enhanced by AMF, especially when the donor roots have been formerly colonised by AMF. The transfer can be further increased with higher hyphae length densities, and the present data also suggest that a direct link between receiver mycelium and internal fungal structures in dead roots may in addition facilitate N transfer. The mechanical disruption of soil containing dead roots may increase the subsequent availability of nutrients, thus promoting mycorrhizal N uptake. When associated with a living plant, the external mycelium of G. intraradices is readily able to re-establish itself in the soil following disruption and functions as a transfer vessel.     

Adult plants facilitate their conspecific seedlings by enhancing arbuscular mycorrhizae in a saline soil

Aims

We tested the hypothesis that adult plants can help their conspecific (i.e. an organism belonging to the same species as another organism) seedlings develop symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), thereby increasing seedling nutrient uptake and growth in a saline soil.

Methods

Using the halophytic shrub Tamarix chinensis as a model plant, we conducted two field experiments and a greenhouse experiment. Field experiment 1 assessed the importance of below-ground effects of adult neighbor. Field experiment 2 determined the involvement of AMF in neighbor effects by applying fungicide benomyl to obtain AMF suppressed treatment. The greenhouse experiment tested whether neighbor effects were influenced by AMF hyphal connection between adults and seedlings by using 25 μm and 0.45 μm nylon mesh to allow and prevent the AMF hyphae pass through respectively.

Results

Adult neighbor increased shoot biomass and nutrient of target seedlings and the below-ground effects mediated by AMF was facilitative under high soil salinity level. Field experiment 1 showed that adult neighbors reduced soil salinity, increased soil organic matter, and provided AMF spores for target seedlings via whole plant effects or below-ground effects alone. Field experiment 2 showed that shoot biomass and AMF colonization of target seedlings were greater with an adult neighbor when AMF were not suppressed treatment than in AMF were suppressed or there were no neighbors. In the greenhouse experiment, adult neighbors with AMF hyphal connection increased shoot biomass, AMF colonization, and ¹⁵N content of target seedlings under the high salinity level.

Conclusion

The results support our hypothesis that adult plants can promote the growth and nutrient uptake of their conspecific seedlings in a saline soil by helping them to develop AMF symbiosis. These findings highlight the roles of adult neighbor plants on seedlings regeneration through rhizospheric symbiosis in stressful environments.

     

丛枝菌根对喜树幼苗生长和氮、磷吸收的影响

喜树(Camptotheca acuminata)是我国特有的多年生亚热带落叶阔叶树种,因其次生代谢产物喜树碱具有良好的抗肿瘤活性而受到人们的广泛关注。该文通过温室盆栽接种试验,观察了2属6种丛枝菌根真菌即蜜色无梗囊霉(Acaulospora mellea)、光壁无梗囊霉(A. laevis)、木薯球囊霉(Glomus manihot)、地表球囊霉(G. versiforme)、幼套球囊霉(G. etunicatum)和透光球囊霉(G. diaphanum)对喜树幼苗生长和氮、磷养分吸收的影响。结果表明,丛枝菌根的形成对喜树幼苗的生长以及氮、磷营养的吸收均有影响。从生物量看,除幼套球囊霉和光壁无梗囊霉侵染形成的丛枝菌根喜树幼苗与无菌根幼苗(CK)差异不显著外,其余菌根幼苗的生物量均明显大于无菌根幼苗,透光球囊霉和蜜色无梗囊霉菌根幼苗尤为突出,分别达到无菌根幼苗的1.9和1.4倍。丛枝菌根的形成似乎不利于喜树幼苗的氮素营养吸收,并且主要体现在叶片的氮含量上。相反,丛枝菌根形成总体上促进喜树幼苗对磷素营养的吸收,并且主要体现在根的磷含量上。与无菌根幼苗比,所有菌根幼苗根的氮、磷分配比例增加,而叶片的氮、磷分配比例减少。