丛枝菌根真菌对中性紫色土土壤团聚体特征的影响

利用分根装置研究了接种丛枝菌根真菌对中性紫色土土壤团聚体数量、大小和稳定性的影响,分析了土壤团聚体数量、分布和分形维数,并运用通径分析对不同影响因子进行了分析。结果表明:接种G. intraradices和G. mosseae的菌根室土壤有机质和总球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白含量有增加的趋势;湿筛条件下菌根室土壤的平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)均显著高于根室土壤,而且降低了土壤分形维数,显示了丛枝菌根真菌提升土壤结构特征的作用。通径分析的结果表明,在影响MWD的众多因子中,菌丝密度对MWD有最大的直接作用。两种菌种对土壤结构均有不同程度的改良作用,反映了丛枝菌根真菌功能的多样性。     

接种AM真菌对玉米和油菜种间竞争及土壤无机磷组分的影响

在温室盆栽条件下,分别模拟单作、间作和尼龙网分隔种植,比较接种丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM)真菌Glomus intraradices和Glomus mosseae对菌根植物玉米和非菌根植物油菜生长和磷吸收状况的影响,并分析土壤中各无机磷组分的变化。结果发现,接种AM真菌可以促进土壤中难溶性磷(Ca₁₀-P和O-P)向有效态磷转化,并显著降低总无机磷含量 (P<0.05),显著提高菌根植物玉米的生物量和磷吸收量(P<0.05),特别是在间作体系中使玉米的磷营养竞争比率显著提高了45.0%-104.1% (P<0.05),显著降低了油菜的生物量和磷吸收量(P<0.05),从而增强了了菌根植物的竞争优势,降低了非菌根植物与菌根植物的共存能力。揭示了石灰性土壤中AM真菌对植物物种多样性的影响,有助于更加全面地理解AM真菌在农业生态系统中的作用。     

AM真菌和磷对小马安羊蹄甲幼苗生长的影响

丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)真菌在退化生态系统恢复与重建实践中具有重要作用。采用盆栽模拟方法,重点分析不同土壤磷条件下小马鞍羊蹄甲(Bauhinia faberi)幼苗接种AM真菌后,幼苗的形态、生物量积累、菌根侵染率和菌根效应(mycorrhizal growth response, MGR)在一个生长季内的动态变化。结果表明,Glomus mosseae和 Glomus coronatum能较好地侵染幼苗,两种AM真菌显著地增加幼苗根系、叶片数和生物量;接种AM真菌显著影响幼苗的生物量分配,而土壤磷对幼苗的生物量分配影响不明显,AM真菌和土壤磷对幼苗生长的交互作用显著;G. mosseae是小马鞍羊蹄甲的优势AM菌,其接种的幼苗根长、叶片数、生物量、侵染率和菌根效应都显著高于G. coronatum处理的幼苗;菌根效应显著,接种AM真菌能有缓解土壤磷素缺乏的限制作用,且随着苗龄增大促生作用表现更为明显。不同AM菌种对小马鞍羊蹄甲幼苗生长的促生作用表现出的差异,提示在多元资源限制的干旱贫瘠环境中进行生物修复须为目标恢复物种筛选出高效的优势AM真菌。     

葡萄糖、根浸出液对丛枝菌根真菌吸收不同外源氮产生精氨酸的影响

以大葱(Allium fistulosum)为宿主植物, 接种丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM)真菌Glomus intraradices, 采用三室隔离盆栽培养系统, 在菌丝室施加浓度为4 mmol/L的不同形态外源氮、1%葡萄糖及根浸出液, 通过测定根外菌丝(Extraradical mycelium, ERM)和菌根中精氨酸的含量, 探究葡萄糖、根浸出液对AM真菌吸收不同形式外源氮产生精氨酸的影响。结果表明, 不同外源氮对ERM中精氨酸含量的影响为尿素>Gln>NH₄NO₃>Arg/Gly>NH₄Cl>KNO₃, 对菌根中精氨酸含量的影响为Arg>Gln>尿素>NH₄NO₃>Gly>NH₄Cl>KNO₃; 施加葡萄糖和根浸出液在不同程度上提高ERM干重和菌丝室孢子数量, 但使ERM和菌根中的精氨酸含量降低。说明AM真菌吸收同化不同外源氮产生精氨酸的能力不同, 葡萄糖和根浸出液降低AM真菌吸收同化外源氮产精氨酸的能力。     

丛枝菌根真菌对枳根净离子流及锌污染下枳苗矿质营养的影响

盆栽实验研究了不同施Zn水平(0、300 mg/kg和600 mg/kg)下,接种丛枝菌根真菌Glomus intraradices对枳苗生长、Zn、Cu、P、K、Ca、Mg分布的影响,并采用非损伤微测技术测定分析了菌根化与非菌根化枳根净Ca²⁺、H⁺、NO₃^-离子流动态。结果表明:(1)在不同施Zn水平下,接种菌根真菌显著提高了枳苗地上部及根部鲜重;随着施Zn水平的提高,菌根侵染率呈降低趋势,枳苗地上部与根部Zn含量呈增加趋势,且接种株根部Zn含量显著高于未接种株。(2)接种株未施Zn处理的地上部Cu、P、K、Mg和根部Cu含量、施600 mg/kg Zn处理的根部Cu及施300 mg/kg Zn处理的根部P含量均显著高于对照,而菌根真菌侵染对枳苗Ca含量并无显著性影响。(3)接种株未施Zn处理的根部距根尖端0 μm和600 μm处净Ca²⁺流出速率、600 μm处净H⁺流入速率、2400 μm处净NO₃^-流入速率均显著高于未接种株。     

喀斯特峰丛洼地不同退耕还林还草模式的土壤微生物特性

以坡耕地为对照,研究了喀斯特峰丛洼地任豆、香椿、板栗、柑橘、任豆+桂牧1号、桂牧1号和撂荒7种常见退耕还林还草模式下土壤微生物种群数量、微生物量碳氮磷及其分形特征和主要土壤酶活性特征。结果表明,不同退耕还林还草模式土壤微生物种群数量组成不同,除任豆模式外其他退耕还林还草模式均能提高土壤微生物总数量;不同退耕还林还草模式(除任豆模式外)土壤微生物量碳(MB_C)含量极显著增加,撂荒地最高,土壤微生物量氮(MB_N)含量变化范围不大,呈下降趋势,土壤微生物量磷(MB_P)含量的变异很大,香椿、板栗、撂荒和桂牧1号模式显著或极显著高于坡耕地;土壤MB_C与细菌数量的关系最相关(D=-4.07,R=0.81,P<0.01),其次为MB_C与放线菌数量(D=3.82,R=0.44,P<0.05),再次为MB_N与真菌数量(D=0.58,R=0.61,P<0.01),MB_C与真菌数量、MB_N与细菌、放线菌数量以及MB_P与细菌、真菌、放线菌数量之间不存在分形关系;不同退耕还林还草模式(除桂牧1号模式外)均显著或极显著增加了土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性。总之,不同退耕还林还草模式均改善了土壤微生物特性,为喀斯特峰丛洼地脆弱生态系统恢复与重建提供了重要依据。     

北方两省农牧交错带沙棘根围AM真菌与球囊霉素空间分布

2009年7月在内蒙古和河北两省农牧交错带沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides L)集中分布区选取3个典型样地,分别从0-10cm、10-20cm、20-30cm、30-40cm和40-50cm土层采集沙棘根围土壤样品,研究了沙棘根围AM真菌与球囊霉素空间分布及与土壤因子的相关性。结果表明,沙棘能与AM真菌形成良好的疆南星型(Arum-type)丛枝菌根。AM真菌定殖率和孢子密度与样地生态条件密切相关。大梁底村和多伦东样地AM真菌不同结构定殖率及孢子密度无明显差别,但均显著高于黄柳条村样地,只在大梁底村发现丛枝定殖;孢子密度在3个样地均随土层加深而降低,不同结构定殖率在大梁底村随土层加深而降低,其他2个样地无明显变化规律;AM真菌最高定殖率和最大孢子密度均出现在0-30cm浅土层。根围土壤总球囊霉素(TEG)和易提取球囊霉素(EEG)含量在3个样地均随土层加深而降低。相关性分析表明,孢子密度与菌丝定殖率、泡囊定殖率和总定殖率极显著正相关。AM真菌菌丝、泡囊和总定殖率与土壤pH值、有机C、碱解N和速效P含量、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性极显著正相关,丛枝定殖率与土壤碱解N含量和脲酶活性显著正相关。多元线性回归方程表明,AM真菌不同定殖结构和土壤因子对TEG和EEG含量贡献不同,对于TEG:菌丝>孢子>泡囊;有机C>速效P>酸性磷酸酶>pH值,对于EEG:泡囊>孢子>菌丝;有机C>速效P。结果建议,AM真菌孢子密度、菌丝定殖程度和土壤球囊霉素含量在一定程度上能综合反应土壤AM真菌群落、有机C动态和养分循环进程,可以作为土壤质量及功能评价的新指标进一步深入研究。     

藏北高寒草原针茅属植物AM真菌的物种多样性

基于AMF孢子形态学鉴定,对藏北高寒草原4种针茅菌根际土壤进行了研究,结果表明:(1)高原寒、旱环境下,Glomus属真菌在不同针茅菌根际AM真菌种群构成中的地位和作用非常突出,其孢子密度、种数、相对多度和重要值均显著(P≤0.05)大于Acaulospora、Scutellospora属。(2)针茅属植物种类对AM真菌物种多样性具有重要影响,广布种沙生针茅Shannon-Weiner指数、物种均匀度指数相对最高(分别为1.79和0.72),其次分别为羽柱针茅、紫花针茅和昆仑针茅;青藏高原特有针茅属植物菌根际AMF的繁殖能力相对较强,羽柱针茅、紫花针茅、昆仑针茅孢子密度分别较沙生针茅提高57.8%、48.7%\,62.4%。(3)不同针茅菌根际土壤中,同种AM真菌(共有种)和优势种(F>50%)较多、优势种种类差异很大的种群分布特征,体现了AM真菌种群构成的复杂性,以及AMF对高原寒旱环境的高度适应性、协同性。(4)不同针茅菌根际AMF优势种相对多度高达78.2%-92.4%(平均为85.7%),对AM真菌的群落构成具有重要作用。其中,G. claroideum孢子密度即占4类针茅AM真菌优势种的50.2%-71.9%。     

丛枝菌根真菌对玉米秸秆降解的影响及其作用机制

为了比较菌根、菌丝、植物根系对玉米秸秆降解的影响,采用4室分根装置即土壤室(S)、根室(R)、菌根室(M)和菌丝室(H),分室间用400目尼龙网和有机板分隔,尼龙网袋包埋玉米秸秆于不同分室内,以玉米为宿主植物,接种丛枝菌根(AM)真菌Glomus mosseae。试验分别在移栽后第20、30、40、50、60天时取样,通过测定接种AM真菌后玉米秸秆的碳、氮释放,土壤中3种常见酶活性、微生物量碳和氮及土壤呼吸的动态变化,探讨AM真菌降解玉米秸秆可能的作用机制。研究结果表明:经60 d的培养后,与未接种S室相比,接种AM真菌的M室和H室玉米秸秆降解量提高了27.72%和8.07%;另外,M室玉米秸秆碳素释放显著增加,而氮素的释放减少,致使碳氮比显著低于其他3室,较初始值降幅达8.72%,有利于秸秆进一步降解。在试验条件下,M室中土壤酸性磷酸酶、蛋白酶、过氧化氢酶活性较其他3室都有显著提高,并增加了微生物量碳、氮和土壤呼吸作用,形成了明显有别于根际的微生物区系。这一系列影响都反映出AM直接或间接作用于玉米秸秆的降解过程,是导致玉米秸秆降解加快的重要原因。     

不同磷源对红三叶草根际和菌根际磷酸酶活性的影响

以红三叶草为研究对象,利用三室培养系统,在接种菌根真菌(Glomus mosseae)的条件下研究了不同磷源对根际和菌根际磷酸酶活性的影响,植株生长8周后收获并测定根室、菌丝室的土壤磷酸酶活性、植株干重及含磷量．结果表明,根室酸性磷酸酶活性比碱性磷酸酶活性更裔,接种条件下二者都稍有增加,特别是在供给有机磷(植酸钠)的条件下明显增加了菌丝室土壤磷酸酶活性．接种菌根真菌显著增加了植株干重、磷含量和总磷吸收．施用磷酸二氢钾(KH2PO4)时菌丝吸磷量占吸磷总量的43．1%,而施用植酸钠(Na-phytate)时菌丝吸磷量占吸磷总量的60．8%。     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil structure and aggregate stability of a vertisol

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on aggregate stability of a semi-arid Indian vertisol was studied in a pot experiment in which Sorghum bicolor (L.) was grown as test plant for 10 weeks. Pasteurized soil inoculated with AM fungi was studied with pasteurized and unpasteurized soils as references. A part of the soil in each pot was placed in nylon mesh bags to separate effects of roots and hyphae. The sorghum plants were planted outside the mesh bags which permitted AM hyphae to enter while excluding roots. Aggregate stability of the soil was determined by wet-sieving and turbidimetric measurements. Development of the AM fungi was quantified as colonized root length and external hyphal length. Soil exposed to growth of roots and hyphae (outside mesh bags) showed aggregates with larger geometric mean diameter (GMD) in pasteurized soil inoculated with AM fungi than in pasteurized uninoculated soil. There was no significant difference in GMD of the inoculated, pasteurized soil and the unpasteurized soil. No significant effects of inoculation or plant growth were found in pasteurized soil exposed to hyphal growth only (inside the mesh bags). However, the unpasteurized soil had significantly higher GMD than the pasteurized soil, irrespective of plants and inoculum. Turbidimetric measurements of soil exposed to roots and hyphae (outside mesh bags) showed the highest aggregate stability for the inoculated pasteurized soil. These results demonstrate that AM fungi contribute to the stabilization of soil aggregates in a vertisol, and that the effect is significant after only one growing season. The effect was associated with both AM hyphae and the stimulation of root growth by AM fungi. The contribution from plant roots and AM hyphae to aggregate stability of different size fractions is discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Symbiosis of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Robinia pseudoacacia L. Improves Root Tensile Strength and Soil Aggregate Stability

Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) is a widely planted tree species on Loess Plateau for revegetation. Due to its symbiosis forming capability with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, we explored the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant biomass, root morphology, root tensile strength and soil aggregate stability in a pot experiment. We inoculated R. pseudoacacia with/without AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis or Glomus versiforme), and measured root colonization, plant growth, root morphological characters, root tensile force and tensile strength, and parameters for soil aggregate stability at twelve weeks after inoculation. AM fungi colonized more than 70% plant root, significantly improved plant growth. Meanwhile, AM fungi elevated root morphological parameters, root tensile force, root tensile strength, Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) content in soil, and parameters for soil aggregate stability such as water stable aggregate (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD). Root length was highly correlated with WSA, MWD and GMD, while hyphae length was highly correlated with GRSP content. The improved R. pseudoacacia growth, root tensile strength and soil aggregate stability indicated that AM fungi could accelerate soil fixation and stabilization with R. pseudoacacia, and its function in revegetation on Loess Plateau deserves more attention.     

Possible role of soil microorganisms in aggregation in soils

In many soils, roots and fungal hyphae, especially those of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi, stabilize macroaggregates (>250 μm diameter); organic residues, bacteria, polysaccharides and inorganic materials stabilize microaggregates (<250 μm). This review discusses the factors (including other organisms) which affect VAM hyphae and their extracellular polysaccharides in soil, and the subsequent effect on stability of aggregates. The review also discusses the possible role of other organisms, including ectomycorrhizal fungi, in the stability of soil, and suggests future research.     

Bacterial associations with the mycorrhizosphere and hyphosphere of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae

Roots and mycorrhizal fungi may not associate with soil bacteria randomly, but rather in a hierarchical structure of mutual preferences. Elucidation of such structures would facilitate the management of the soil biota to enhance the stability of the plant-soil system. We conducted an experiment utilizing two isolates of soil bacteria to determine their persistence in distinct mycorrhizal regions of the root zone, and their effects on general rhizosphere populations of fluorescent pseudomonads (FP). Split-root sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) plants were grown in four-compartment containers, constructed so that the soils in individual compartments held either (1) roots colonized by the arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae (M), (2) nonAM roots only (R), (3) hyphae of G. mosseae (H), or (4) no mycorrhizal structures (S). The soils were inoculated (10⁷ cells g^-1 dry soil) with antibiotic-resistant (rifampicin, rif; streptomycin, sm) strains of the soil bacteria, Alcaligenes eutrophus (rif^r50) or Arthrobacter globiformis (sm^r250), or were left uninoculated as control. A. eutrophus had been isolated from a specific source (hyphosphere soil of G. mosseae), and A. globiformis from mycorrhizosphere soils of two AM fungi. After 10 wk of growth, the presence of A. eutrophus was barely detectable (<10 cfu g^-1 dry soil) in nonAM (R and S) soils, but persisted well (10⁴ cfu g^-1 dry soil) in AM (H and M) soils. Numbers of A. globiformis were more evenly distributed between all soils, but were highest in the presence of AM roots (M soil). There were varied bacterial effects on root and AM-hyphal development: A. eutrophus decreased hyphal length in H soil, while A. globiformis stimulated root length in M soil. The two bacterial inoculants did not affect numbers of FP in H, R, and M soils, but the AM status of the soils did: the numbers of FP increased in the order M>R>H>S. There was a positive correlation of FP numbers with both bacterial inoculants in M and H soils. Numbers of FP changed with root or hyphal lengths, an effect that was related to changes in the numbers of the inoculated bacteria. The results indicate that the hyphosphere-specific A. eutrophus depended on the presence of G. mosseae, but that the nonspecific A. globiformis did not. The mycorrhizal status of soils may selectively influence persistence of bacterial inoculants as well as affecting the numbers of other native bacteria.     

Soil aggregation status and rhizobacteria in the mycorrhizosphere

Soil aggregation is a dynamic process in which plants and the soil microbiota play a major role. This experiment was conducted to determine whether the effects of mycorrhizae on the stability of water-stable soil aggregates (WSA) and on selected groups of soil microorganisms are interrelated. Soil containers consisting of four compartments were utilized. Two compartments on each side of a solid barrier were separated by a 43 m screen that permitted the passage of hyphae, but not of roots. The roots of Sorghum bicolor plants were split over the center barrier, and the roots on one side were inoculated with an arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) fungus. This design produced mycorrhizosphere soils (M) by AM roots or hyphosphere (H) soils by AM hyphae in the two compartments on the one side of the barrier, and rhizosphere soils (R) by nonAM roots or root- and hypha-free bulk soil (S) in the two compartments on the other side. At harvest (10 wk), there were significant differences in WSA between soils in the order: M>R>H>S, and WSA stability was significantly correlated with root or hyphal length. Numbers of colony-forming units of the microflora (total bacteria, actinomycetes, anaerobes, P solubilizers, and nonAM fungi) were in general not correlated with root or hyphal length, but in some cases were significantly correlated with WSA. Bacteria isolated from the water-stable soil-aggregate fraction tended to be more numerous than from the unstable fraction. The difference was significant in the M soil for total bacteria and P solubilizing bacteria. NonAM fungi were more numerous in the unstable fraction of the M soil. The data show that the root and fungal components of mycorrhizae enhance WSA stability individually and additively in concert, and suggest that they affect microorganism numbers indirectly by providing a favorable and protective habitat through the creation of habitable pore space in the WSA.     

干旱条件下AM真菌对植物生长和土壤水稳定性团聚体的影响

采用分室培养系统,模拟正常水分和干旱胁迫两种环境条件,探讨不同丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)生长和土壤水稳性团聚体的影响.试验条件下,Glomus intraradices对苜蓿根系的侵染率均显著高于Acaulospora scrobiculata和Diversispora spurcum接种处理.正常水分条件下,供试AM真菌均能显著提高植株生物量及磷浓度.干旱胁迫显著抑制了植株生长和菌根共生体发育,总体上菌根共生体对植株生长没有明显影响,接种D.spurcum甚至趋于降低植株生物量;同时,仅有G.intraradices显著提高了植株磷浓度.AM真菌主要影响到＞2mm的水稳性团聚体数量,以G.intraradices作用效果最为显著.在菌丝室中,G.intraradices显著提高了总球囊霉素含量.研究表明AM真菌对土壤大团聚体形成具有积极作用,而菌根效应因土壤水分条件和不同菌种而异,干旱胁迫下仅有G.intraradices对土壤结构和植物生长表现出显著积极作用.在应用菌根技术治理退化土壤时,需要选用抗逆性强共生效率高的菌株,对于不同AM真菌抗逆性差异的生物学与遗传学基础尚需进一步研究.     

菌丝室接种解磷细菌Bacillus megaterium C4对土壤有机磷矿化和植物吸收的影响

通过30μm尼龙网将根盒分成根室和菌丝室,菌丝室中的低磷土壤施加75 mg P/kg土壤的植酸钙,研究了菌丝室土壤中丛枝菌根(AM)真菌Glomus intraradices和解磷细菌Bacillus megaterium C4对有机磷的矿化和吸收.结果表明,在试验条件下,植酸钙的溶解性很低,对土壤溶液有机磷的贡献不大.接种解磷细菌C4提高了土壤中磷酸酶的活性,减少了土壤中有机磷的含量.但是,由于存在解磷细菌与AM真菌对磷的竞争,解磷细菌矿化出的磷大部分被自身利用,AM真菌的生长受到抑制,解磷细菌对植物磷营养的改善没有表现出显著的贡献.     

分室培养装置在丛枝菌根真菌研究中的应用及其发展

重点围绕玻璃珠分室培养系统、H形分室培养系统、根排斥室培养系统、供体自养植物的双分室体外培养系统、丛枝菌根(AM)真菌与普通植物根器官的双重培养系统、AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根的双重单胞无菌培养系统、AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根双重培养的改良分室单胞培养系统等7个不同的分室培养装置, 对AM真菌的培养类型及其应用进行了系统的评述。其中, 采用玻璃珠分室培养装置易于将AM真菌与培养基质分开, 能获得大量纯净的AM真菌繁殖体, 用于研究AM真菌对矿质元素和微量元素的吸收, 具有不可替代的作用。H形分室培养系统和根排斥室(RECs)培养系统均能够获得连续的、可切断的共生菌根网络(CMNs), 可用于研究植物-植物、植物-昆虫之间化感作用产生的信息交流。供体自养植物的双分室培养系统有益于研究AM真菌对宿主植物在单作和混作条件下生长效应的影响。AM真菌与植物根器官的双重培养系统为研究AM真菌的侵染过程及生理、生化特性提供了极大的方便, 同时为纯培养研究提供了重要的理论依据。AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根的双重单胞无菌培养体系可以获得AM真菌纯净菌体, 是研究AM真菌遗传、生理、生化等特性的理想方法。以AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根的双重单胞无菌培养系统为基础, 可以在菌丝生长室置换培养基、在根室中补充适量碳源, 并多次收获AM真菌繁殖体。转型根改良双重培养系统是提高AM真菌孢子接种剂产量的有效方法。综上所述, AM真菌的分室培养系统已经取得显著进展, 为开展个体、种群、群落等不同层次的菌根生态学研究提供了依据。     

Studies on the attractional effect of root exudates on hyphal growth of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in a soil compartment-membrane system

The effects of tomato and bean rhizospheres on hyphal spreading of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae were studied using a soil compartment system in combination with hydrophobic polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) membranes. Both the nylon screen and the PTFE membrane were freely permeable to hyphae but not to roots. Furthermore, the hydrophobic PTFE membrane seemed to be a barrier to the flux of soil solutions containing root exudates. The results show that water soluble exudates of tomato and bean roots greatly stimulate hyphal growth in the soil compartment system used. Moreover, water soluble root exudates of bean exert a clear attractional effect on AM hyphal growth.