铝对外生菌根真菌草酸分泌及磷、钾、铝吸收的影响

试验研究了在铝胁迫条件下,6种(株)外生菌根真菌(ECMF)的生长、草酸分泌,以及磷、钾、铝的吸收状况。结果表明,铝对抗(耐)型菌种Pt715、HrSp、CgSIV的生长无抑制作用,但显著抑制敏感型菌株LbS238N、LbS238A和Lb270的生长,说明ECMF对铝胁迫的生长反应可能是筛选抗(耐)铝的指标之一。在铝胁迫条件下,无论是抗(耐)型还是敏感型菌种(株),都会发生一系列有益于抗(耐)铝的生化反应,包括草酸分泌量、菌丝磷和钾含量增加,H+分泌改变等。在培养液中,草酸电离产生的H+仅占H+总浓度的少数,说明溶液中H+的主要来源不是ECMF所分泌的草酸,而是菌丝细胞为保持吸收阳离子的电荷平衡排出的H+或分泌的其它有机酸。     

外生菌根真菌对土壤钾的活化作用

【目的】外生菌根真菌是森林生态系统中的重要组成成分,与木本植物的根系形成菌根,参与树木养分吸收。【方法】试验在液培条件下,以土壤为钾源,利用我国西南地区分离的牛肝菌(Boletnus sp.,Bo 07)、松乳菇(Lactarius delicious,Ld 03)、彩色豆马勃(Pisolithus tinctorius,Pt 715)和内蒙古大青山分离的土生空团菌(Cenococcum geophilum,Cg 04)为材料,研究了它们的生长、钾吸收、氢离子和有机酸分泌,以及土壤钾的变化。【结果】结果表明,Bo 07、Ld 03和Pt 715的生物量、含钾量和吸收量显著高于Cg 04,说明在长期缺钾的环境中,外生菌根真菌经过"物竞天择"可能进化出适应低钾和较强的吸钾能力。以土壤为钾源培养菌根真菌,培养液中的钾浓度显著提高,故外生菌根真菌可促进土壤钾的溶解。在外生菌根真菌的培养液中,分别检测到苹果酸、丁二酸和柠檬酸,均检测到草酸和乙酸。Bo 07、Ld 03和Pt 715显著提高土壤交换性钾含量,Bo 07和Ld 03还显著降低矿物结构钾含量,说明外生菌根真菌不同程度地活化了土壤无效钾,分离自南方的菌株Bo 07、Ld 03和Pt 715总体上大于分离自北方的菌株Cg 04。此外,土壤矿物结构钾分别与总有机酸和草酸分泌量呈极显著负相关(r有机酸=-0.989**,r草酸=-0.950*,n=5),与培养液pH值呈显著正相关(r=0.916*,n=5),故外生菌根真菌分泌的氢离子和有机酸尤其是草酸可能活化土壤无效钾。【结论】供试外生菌根真菌能不同程度的活化土壤无效钾,其活化能力可能与分泌氢离子和有机酸尤其是草酸密切相关。     

磷与信号抑制剂对外生菌根真菌分泌草酸的调控作用

摘要:【目的】磷是树木生长的必需营养元素之一,磷素营养丰缺条件下,研究外生菌根真菌的草酸分泌及调控有益于揭示它们活化利用土壤无机磷的机理。【方法】试验设置低、正常、高3种不同磷浓度,液体培养外生菌根真菌,研究了磷和Ca2+信号/阴离子通道抑制剂对草酸分泌的调控作用。【结果】外生菌根真菌能分泌大量的氢离子和草酸、乙酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸和丁二酸等多种有机酸,对溶解难溶性无机磷有重要作用。在外生菌根真菌分泌的有机酸中,草酸占15.14%－36.01%;低磷促进草酸分泌,正常和高磷则产生抑制作用;培养液磷浓度和菌丝含磷量分别与供试菌种的草酸分泌速率呈显著或极显著负相关,相关系数依次为r=－0.264*和r=－0.349＊＊,n=60,*表示显著(P0.05),＊＊表示极显著(P 0.01),说明磷能调控外生菌根真菌分泌草酸。在低磷胁迫下,钙调蛋白抑制剂、Ca2+通道抑制剂、Ca2+内膜通道抑制剂和阴离子通道抑制剂显著抑制外生菌根真菌分泌草酸。但是,在正常和高磷条件下,草酸分泌速率低,未响应Ca2+信号/阴离子通道抑制剂。【结论】供试外生菌根真菌能分泌大量的氢离子和有机酸(尤其是草酸),有益于溶解土壤无机磷,改善寄主植物的磷营养;供磷水平调控草酸分泌速率;在低磷胁迫下,Ca2+信号是介导外生菌根真菌分泌草酸的信号因子。     

钾与信号抑制剂对外生菌根真菌分泌乙酸的调控作用

外生菌根真菌是森林生态系统中的重要成分,参与树木养分的吸收利用。试验液体培养外生菌根真菌,设置不同供钾水平,添加钙信号抑制剂,研究了它们的有机酸和氢离子分泌,以及乙酸分泌对供钾和信号抑制剂的响应。结果表明,供试菌株的生长,氮、磷、钾含量和吸收量因菌株不同而异,生物量变化于52.91—121.72 mg/瓶之间,相差1倍以上。外生菌根真菌吸收养分的差异可能与它们对土壤养分环境的长期适应、进化、选择有关。在外生菌根真菌的培养液中,分别检测出草酸、乙酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸和丁二酸等,以及大量的氢离子,说明菌根真菌能分解土壤含钾矿物,释放钾离子,改善寄主植物的钾营养。其中,乙酸分泌量较大,具有普遍性,低钾刺激分泌乙酸,高钾时分泌减少,其分泌速率与供钾浓度和菌丝吸钾量之间呈显著负相关(r=-0.734,r=-0.617,n=60)。钾对菌根真菌分泌乙酸的调控作用具有改善森林钾素营养,防止土壤养分淋失的生理和生态意义。此外,在低钾条件下,阴离子通道和钙信号抑制剂抑制外生菌根真菌分泌乙酸。说明钙信号和阴离子通道参与了乙酸分泌,缺钾可能是刺激乙酸分泌的原初信号,通过信号转导和一系列级联反应促进乙酸分泌。     

钾对外生菌根真菌的分泌作用及氮、磷、钾含量的影响

用无钾、低钾、中钾和高钾的液体培养基培养外生菌根真菌14～21d,随着钾离子浓度的降低,外生菌根真菌分泌H^ 和草酸的速率提高。由于H^ 能取代2：1型粘粒矿物品层和晶格内的钾,草酸能络合矿物中的Fe,Al离子,促进Al-O八面体风化,推测菌根真菌和菌根活化土壤无效钾的能力在低钾时较强,在高钾时较弱。在外生菌根真菌分泌的H^ 中,草酸电离可能不是它们的主要来源,而是一些目前尚未知道的有机酸。此外,液体培养基中的钾离子不同程度地影响外生菌根真菌体内的氮、磷、钾含量,看来环境中的钾离子供应影响了真菌菌丝对养分的吸收。     

青蒿素对外生菌根真菌化感效应

青蒿素是治疗疟疾的首选药物,主要从黄花蒿(Artemisia annua L.)中提取,然而黄花蒿在生长过程中会向周围环境分泌青蒿素。为正确评估青蒿素对森林生态系统中的重要成分""外生菌根真菌的影响,试验以重庆地区有代表性的两株外生菌根真菌——褐环乳牛肝菌(Suillus luteus)Sl 8和松乳菇(Lactarius delicious)Ld 3为材料,研究了青蒿素对菌丝生长,H+和有机酸分泌,以及养分吸收的影响。结果表明,在液体培养基中加入青蒿素,外生菌根真菌的生长受到明显抑制,菌丝生物量降幅高达26.89%(Ld 3)和89.13%(Sl 8);Ld 3分泌H+和草酸的能力增强,而Sl 8分泌量下降。随着青蒿素浓度的增加,菌丝的N、P、K含量及吸收量显著减少。当培养基中青蒿素达到80 mg/L时,Ld 3的N、P、K吸收量比不加青蒿素的处理分别降低了50.55%、46.30%和42.28%;Sl 8几乎丧失对N、P、K的吸收能力。说明青蒿素不同程度地抑制了外生菌根真菌的生长和养分吸收,但对H+和草酸的分泌作用因菌株不同而异。     

铝对外生菌根真菌营养元素吸收和酶活性的影响

以褐环乳牛肝菌Suillus luteus (Sl)、乳牛肝菌Suillus bovines (Sb)、琥珀乳牛肝菌Suillus placidus (Sp)为供试菌株,采用液体培养法,分析不同浓度Al³⁺ (0、0.2、0.4、0.8、1.2和1.6 mmol·L^–1)处理对3种外生菌根真菌生物量、pH、养分吸收、抗氧化酶活性、MDA含量的影响,探讨外生菌根真菌耐铝机制。结果表明,铝处理显著增加3种菌株生物量、P含量和Al含量,降低培养液中pH。当Al³⁺浓度为0.8 mmol·L^–1时,菌株生物量增幅最大,各浓度Al³⁺处理的3种菌株Al含量为Sp＞Sb＞Sl;K含量随Al³⁺浓度增加呈先上升后下降的趋势,低浓度Al³⁺(≤0.4 mmol·L^–1)显著促进Sl菌株中N元素的积累,0.4 mmol·L^–1 Al³⁺处理菌株N含量较无铝处理增加42.65%。铝处理还显著降低菌株POD和SOD活性,增加菌株MDA含量。菌株生物量与菌丝N、P、K含量呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01),其中与P含量相关性最高(r=0.635)。综上,环境中Al³⁺浓度是影响外生菌根真菌吸收铝的关键因素,在一定Al³⁺浓度下,外生菌根真菌通过增加对营养元素N、P、K的吸收,提高菌丝酶活性,降低MDA含量以缓解铝毒害,增强其在铝胁迫下的生存能力。该研究为筛选抗(耐)铝性强的优良菌株提供理论依据。     

锰对外生菌根真菌生长、养分吸收、有机酸分泌和菌丝体中锰分布的影响

外生菌根真菌对于酸性和锰污染土壤的植树造林和生态恢复有重要作用。采用液体培养方法,以大白菇Rd Fr(Russula delica Fr.)、彩色豆马勃Pt 715(Pisolithus tinctorius 715)、土生空团菌Cg Fr(Cenococcum geophilum Fr.)和厚环粘盖牛肝菌Sg Kl S(Suillus grevillei(Kl.)Sing)为供试对象,研究了Mn2+对外生菌根真菌生长、养分吸收、有机酸和氢离子分泌的影响,以及锰在菌丝细胞内外的分布情况。结果表明:在0—800 mg Mn2+/L的培养液中,Mn2+对Rd Fr生长无显著影响;低浓度的Mn2+刺激Sg Kl S生长,中、高浓度无抑制作用;但大幅度降低Pt 715和Cg Fr的生物量,说明Rd Fr和Sg Kl S抗(耐)锰的能力较强。在Mn2+胁迫下,供试菌株的氮、钾含量和吸收量显著降低;含磷量和吸收量,以及草酸和柠檬酸的分泌速率因菌株不同而表现出多样性,说明在减轻Mn2+毒的过程中,磷酸盐(或聚磷酸盐)对Mn2+固定作用和有机酸的络合作用因菌株不同而异。但是,Mn2+显著降低Rd Fr和Sg Kl S的氢离子分泌速率,菌丝和原生质中的含Mn量显著低于敏感性菌株,说明降低Mn2+的活性和减少吸收可能是外生菌根真菌抗(耐)Mn2+的重要机制。此外,菌丝吸收的Mn2+绝大部份存在于质外体,少量进入细胞,前者是后者的5.23—9.21倍,说明原生质膜是外生菌根真菌防御Mn2+进入细胞的重要屏障。     

低磷和铝毒胁迫条件下菜豆有机酸的分泌与累积

以水培方式研究了低磷、铝毒胁迫条件下,不同菜豆基因型根系有机酸的分泌及其在植穆不同部位的累积,结果表明,低磷,铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆有机酸的分泌与累积存在显著的基因差异。低磷、铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆主要分泌柠檬酸、酒石酸和乙酸,其中,50μmol/LAl^3 诱导柠檬酸分泌量最高;低磷（小于20μmol/LH2PO4^－）胁迫诱导柠榨菜酸分泌量显著高于高磷处理,但低磷处理之间差异不明显,铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆有机酸的分泌与累积显著高于低磷胁迫处理,低磷,铝毒胁迫植株不同部位有机酸的含量为叶片大小根系,低磷,铝毒胁迫时,G842菜豆型柠檬酸有机酸分泌总量显著高于273、AFR和ZPV,其干重和磷吸收明明显于大G273,AFR和ZPV,且铝吸收量小于G273,AFR和ZPV,说明,G482菜豆基因型对低磷,铝毒的适应能力强于G273,AFR和ZPV基因型,菜豆有机酸,,尤其柠檬酸的分泌是其适应低磷、铝毒胁迫的重要生理反应。     

铝胁迫下两种外生菌根真菌的有机酸分泌与吸收动力学特征

为探索菌丝体吸附及有机酸分泌在外生菌根真菌(ECMF)抗铝性中的作用,将抗铝能力不同的两种ECMF[彩色豆马勃(Pisolithus tinctorius 715,Pt 715)和松乳菇(Lactarius deliciosus 2,Ld 2)]在酸性含Al~(3+)溶液中培养,检测它们的有机酸分泌和吸收动力学特征。结果发现:(1)两种ECMF分泌的有机酸种类和多寡因菌种而异,且不因铝胁迫发生改变:Ld 2为甲酸草酸,Pt 715为酒石酸甲酸草酸丁二酸。铝胁迫下Ld 2分泌的两种有机酸均显著增加,而Pt 715分泌的酒石酸和甲酸显著增加,丁二酸显著降低,草酸未显著改变;(2)两种ECMF对Al~(3+)的吸收符合离子的吸收动力学模型,为主动吸收。Ld 2的CEC、C_(min)、I_(max)以及吸附性Al~(3+)都高于Pt 715,而K_m和吸收性Al~(3+)的值低于Pt 715。即抗铝性较强的Ld 2比抗铝性较弱的Pt 715有更多的阳离子吸附位点和更强的Al~(3+)吸附能力。因此,有机酸分泌和菌丝体对Al~(3+)的吸附都能提高ECMF的抗铝性;有机酸的分泌有利于养分的活化与利用,而菌丝体吸附能阻止Al~(3+)进入共质体而防止铝毒害。     

In vitro weathering of phlogopite by ectomycorrhizal fungi

Oxalate accumulation in external medium under hyphal mats of two ectomycorrhizal species is strongly stimulated (1.7 to 35 fold) by a simultaneous depletion of available K⁺ and Mg²⁺. Pisolithus tinctorius strain 441 accumulates oxalate both on NH₄–N and on NO₃–N whereas Paxillus involutus strain COU only accumulates oxalate on NO₃–N. On NO₃–N, under a simultaneous K⁺ and Mg²⁺ deficiency, P. involutus COU is a very active oxalate producer compared to P. tinctorius 441. The present results could explain the various mineralogical evolutions of a phlogopite mica previously recorded under P. involutus COU or P. tinctorius 441 and suggest a key role for fungal oxalic acid during mineral weathering in response to nutrient deficiency.     

Site-dependent N uptake from N-form mixtures by arctic plants,soil microbes and ectomycorrhizal fungi

Soil microbes constitute an important control on nitrogen (N) turnover and retention in arctic ecosystems where N availability is the main constraint on primary production. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses may facilitate plant competition for the specific N pools available in various arctic ecosystems. We report here our study on the N uptake patterns of coexisting plants and microbes at two tundra sites with contrasting dominance of the circumpolar ECM shrub Betula nana. We added equimolar mixtures of glycine-N, NH₄⁺–N and NO₃⁻–N, with one N form labelled with ¹⁵N at a time, and in the case of glycine, also labelled with ¹³C, either directly to the soil or to ECM fungal ingrowth bags. After 2 days, the vegetation contained 5.6, 7.7 and 9.1% (heath tundra) and 7.1, 14.3 and 12.5% (shrub tundra) of the glycine-, NH₄⁺- and NO₃⁻–¹⁵N, respectively, recovered in the plant–soil system, and the major part of ¹⁵N in the soil was immobilized by microbes (chloroform fumigation-extraction). In the subsequent 24 days, microbial N turnover transferred about half of the immobilized ¹⁵N to the non-extractable soil organic N pool, demonstrating that soil microbes played a major role in N turnover and retention in both tundra types. The ECM mycelial communities at the two tundras differed in N-form preferences, with a higher contribution of glycine to total N uptake at the heath tundra; however, the ECM mycelial communities at both sites strongly discriminated against NO₃⁻. Betula nana did not directly reflect ECM mycelial N uptake, and we conclude that N uptake by ECM plants is modulated by the N uptake patterns of both fungal and plant components of the symbiosis and by competitive interactions in the soil. Our field study furthermore showed that intact free amino acids are potentially important N sources for arctic ECM fungi and plants as well as for soil microorganisms. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Nutrient uptake in mycorrhizal symbiosis

The role of mycorrhizal fungi in acquisition of mineral nutrients by host plants is examined for three groups of mycorrhizas. These are; the ectomycorrhizas (ECM), the ericoid mycorrhizas (EM), and the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM). Mycorrhizal infection may affect the mineral nutrition of the host plant directly by enhancing plant growth through nutrient acquisition by the fungus, or indirectly by modifying transpiration rates and the composition of rhizosphere microflora. A capacity for the external hyphae to take up and deliver nutrients to the plant has been demonstrated for the following nutrients and mycorrhizas; P (VAM, EM, ECM), NH₄ ⁺ (VAM, EM, ECM), NO₃ ^- (ECM), K (VAM, ECM), Ca (VAM, EM), SO₄ ^2- (VAM), Cu (VAM), Zn (VAM) and Fe (EM). In experimental chambers, the external hyphae of VAM can deliver up to 80% of plant P, 25% of plant N, 10% of plant K, 25% of plant Zn and 60% of plant Cu. Knowledge of the role of mycorrhiza in the uptake of nutrients other than P and N is limited because definitive studies are few, especially for the ECM. Although further quantification is required, it is feasible that the external hyphae may provide a significant delivery system for N, K, Cu and Zn in addition to P in many soils. Proposals that ECM and VAM fungi contribute substantially to the Mg, B and Fe nutrition of the host plant have not been substantiated. ECM and EM fungi produce ectoenzymes which provide host plants with the potential to access organic N and P forms that are normally unavailable to VAM fungi or to non mycorrhizal roots. The relative contribution of these nutrient sources requires quantification in the field. Further basic research, including the quantification of nutrient uptake and transport by fungal hyphae in soil and regulation at the fungal-plant interface, is essential to support the selection and utilization of mycorrhizal fungi on a commercial scale.     

Effects of Liming on Potential Oxalate Secretion and Iron Chelation of Beech Ectomycorrhizal Root Tips

Liming is used to counteract forest decline induced by soil acidification. It consists of Ca and Mg input to forest soil and not only restores tree mineral nutrition but also modifies the availability of nutrients in soil. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are involved in mineral nutrient uptake by trees and can recover them through dissolution of mineral surface. Oxalate and siderophore secretion are considered as the main agents of mineral weathering by ECMs. Here, we studied the effects of liming on the potential oxalate secretion and iron complexation by individual beech ECM root tips. Results show that freshly excised Lactarius subdulcis root tips from limed plots presented a high potential oxalate exudation of 177 μM tip⁻¹ h⁻¹. As this ECM species distribution is very dense, it is likely that, in the field, oxalate concentrations in the vicinity of its clusters could be very high. This points out that not only extraradical mycelium but also ECM root tips of certain species can contribute significantly to mineral weathering. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) separated potential oxalate production by ECM root tips in limed and untreated plots, and this activity was mainly driven by L. subdulcis ECMs, but NMDS on potential activity of iron mobilization by ECM root tips did not show a difference between limed and untreated plots. As the mean oxalate secretion did not significantly correlated with the mean iron mobilization by ECM morphotype, we conclude that iron complexation was due to either other organic acids or to siderophores.     

Extraradical hyphae exhibit more plastic nutrient-acquisition strategies than roots under nitrogen enrichment in ectomycorrhiza-dominated forests

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) functional traits related to nutrient acquisition are impacted by nitrogen (N) deposition. However, less is known about whether these nutrient-acquisition traits associated with roots and hyphae differentially respond to increased N deposition in ECM-dominated forests with different initial N status. We conducted a chronic N addition experiment (25 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) in two ECM-dominated forests with contrasting initial N status, that is, a Pinus armandii forest (with relatively low N availability) and a Picea asperata forest (with relatively high N availability), to assess nutrient-mining and nutrient-foraging strategies associated with roots and hyphae under N addition. We show that nutrient-acquisition strategies of roots and hyphae differently respond to increased N addition. Root nutrient-acquisition strategies showed a consistent response to N addition, regardless of initial forest nutrient status, shifting from organic N mining toward inorganic N foraging. In contrast, the hyphal nutrient-acquisition strategy showed diverse responses to N addition depending on initial forest N status. In the Pinus armandii forest, trees increased belowground carbon (C) allocation to ECM fungi thus enhancing hyphal N-mining capacity under increased N availability. By comparison, in the Picea asperata forest, ECM fungi enhanced both capacities of P foraging and P mining in response to N-induced P limitation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ECM fungal hyphae exhibit greater plasticity in nutrient-mining and nutrient-foraging strategies than roots do in response to changes of nutrient status induced by N deposition. This study highlights the importance of ECM associations in tree acclimation and forest function stability under changing environments.     

The improvement of plant N acquisition from an ammonium-treated,drought-stressed soil by the fungal symbiont in arbuscular mycorrhizae

The ability of the external mycelium in arbuscular mycorrhiza for N uptake and transport was studied. The contribution of the fungal symbiont to N acquisition by plants was studied mainly under waterstressed conditions using ¹⁵N. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) was the host for two isolates of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae and G. fasciculatum. The experimental pots had two soil compartments separated by a fine mesh screen (60 m). The root system was restricted to one of these compartments, while the fungal mycelium was able to cross the screen and colonize the soil in the hyphal compartment. A trace amount of ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ was applied to the hyphal compartment 1 week before harvest. Under water-stressed conditions both endophytes increased the ¹⁵N enrichment of plant tissues; this was negligible in nonmycorrhizal control plants. This indicates a direct effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on N acquisition in relatively dry soils. G. mosseae had more effect on N uptake and G. fasciculatum on P uptake under the water-limited conditions tested, but both fungi improved plant biomass production relative to nonmycorrhizal plants to a similar extent.     

Growth response of Afzelia africana Sm. seedlings to ectomycorrhizal inoculation in a nutrient-deficient soil

 The growth and mineral nutrition responses of seedlings of two provenances of Afzelia africana Sm. from Senegal and Burkina Faso, inoculated with four ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi (Scleroderma spp. and an unidentified isolate) from the same regions were assessed in a pot experiment in a savanna ECM-propagule-free soil deficient in NPK. There was little variation in the ability of the different fungal species to colonize roots of either provenance of A. africana or to produce external hyphal in soil. Root colonization by ECM fungi and their hyphal development were not related to mineral nutrition or ECM dependency. Differences in P, N, Mg and Ca concentrations in the leaves of inoculated and non-inoculated Afzelia seedlings were not always associated with production of biomass. Only leaf K concentration increased in both provenances after ECM inoculation. However, the Burkina Faso provenance responded better to inoculation with the two fungal isolates than the Senegal provenance in terms of biomass production. This was due to stimulation of root dry weight of the Burkina Faso provenance. Therefore, the hypothesis arises that non-nutritional rather than nutritional effects explain the contribution of ECM inoculation to the growth of A. africana seedlings. Accepted: 27 April 1999     

In vitro weathering of phlogopite by ectomycorrhizal fungi

The ways in which ectomycorrhizal fungi benefit tree growth and nutrition have not been fully elucidated. Whilst it is most probably due to improved soil colonization, it is also likely that ectomycorrhizal fungi could be directly involved in nutrient cycling of soil reserves. This study assessed access by two species of ectomycorrhizal fungi to soil nonexchangeable K⁺ reserves. The incubation of ectomycorrhizal fungi in bi-compartment Petri dishes with phlogopite led to cation exchange reactions and to crystal lattice weathering. Paxillus involutus COU led to irreversible phlogopite transformations, while Pisolithus tinctorius 441 led to reversible ones. Simultaneous depletion in K⁺ and Mg²⁺ led to an enhanced weathering of phlogopite by P. tinctorius 441. The observation of phlogopite evolution shows that some specific Al³⁺ immobilization occurred under P. tinctorius 441. The data suggest that these bio-weathering mechanisms could be related to the release of fungal organic acids or other complex forming molecules.     

Utilization of organic nitrogen at two different substrate pH by different ectomycorrhizal fungi growing in symbiosis with Pinus sylvestris seedlings

The aim of this study was to test the potential of four isolates of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi to utilize organic nitrogen (N) at two different substrate pHs. The organic N source (¹⁵N labelled lyophilised fungal mycelium) was mixed with either untreated peat/sand mixture (pH 4.9) or peat/sand mixture limed to a pH of 5.9 and put in cylindrical containers added to each pot. The content of the containers was separated from the roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings by a nylon mesh and a 2 mm air gap to reduce diffusion of labelled N to the roots. The mycorrhizal plants (except those colonized by Suillus variegatus 2) took up significantly more ¹⁵N from the labelled mycelium than uncolonized seedlings. Liming significantly reduced the uptake of ¹⁵N by one of the EM fungi (unidentified) but not the other tested species (Paxillus involutus and two isolates of S. variegatus). The EM fungal isolates differed in their influence on the bacterial activity of the soil. This was reduced with P. involutus at both pH levels and increased with one of the two S. variegatus isolates at the high pH and with the other S. variegatus isolate at the low pH level. Liming the soil generally increased bacterial activity. The influence of liming on the proportion of organic N uptake in relation to inorganic N uptake by ectomycorrhizal trees is discussed.