模拟酸雨和接种外生菌根真菌对马尾松土壤养分、土壤团聚体及有机碳组分的影响

以2年生马尾松(Pinus massoniana)幼苗为试验对象,采用原位试验,研究了模拟酸雨和接种外生菌根真菌对土壤有机碳含量、土壤团聚体组成及土壤养分(N、P、K)含量的影响。设置3种强度(p H5.6(CK),4.5,3.5)的模拟酸雨条件,每个强度酸雨下分别设置接种外生菌根真菌和不接种外生菌根真菌,共计6个处理。结果表明:p H3.5酸雨处理显著降低了土壤中速效磷、总磷、速效钾、铵态氮、硝态氮及总氮含量,而外接外生菌根真菌则有效缓解了这一情况;与对照比,酸雨处理提高了微团聚体(0.053 mm,0.053～0.25 mm)含量,降低了大团聚体(0.25～2 mm)含量; pH3.5处理显著降低各粒级尤其是0.25～2 mm粒级团聚体有机碳含量,而接种外生菌根真菌显著增加了有机碳含量;未接种外生菌根真菌土壤中,酸雨处理显著降低了土壤轻组、重组有机碳含量,而接种外生菌根真菌显著提高了土壤轻组、重组有机碳含量;接种外生菌根真菌在一定程度上可以缓解酸雨胁迫对土壤质量的不利影响。     

接种彩色豆马勃对模拟酸沉降下马尾松幼苗生物量的影响

外生菌根能够提高宿主植物对外界环境胁迫的抵抗力,促进植物的生长,本文试图揭示外生菌根对酸雨胁迫下马尾松生长的保护作用。本研究采用盆栽试验,共设置四个处理：酸雨对照处理（Control check (CK), 约pH值5.5）不接种,酸雨对照处理接种,酸雨pH值3.5处理不接种,酸雨pH值3.5处理接种。pH值3.5的酸雨处理降低马尾松的生物量,在试验前期降低根冠比,试验中后期则提高根冠比,在试验初期增加了叶面积,但中后期显著降低了叶面积。接种外生菌根菌有利于马尾松幼苗的生长,pH值3.5处理下接种外生菌根菌能提高马尾松幼苗的生物量,外生菌根菌对生物量分配和叶面积的影响与酸雨胁迫的影响是相反的,即外生菌根菌抵消了酸雨胁迫对马尾松的影响。     

菌根化马尾松对干旱胁迫的响应及其内源多胺的变化

以分别接种4种外生菌根真菌及其混合菌的5种菌根化马尾松植株为材料,在室内进行自然模拟干旱胁迫处理,考察了各处理植株的萎蔫率、萎蔫度及其针叶中的腐胺(Put)、亚精胺(Spd)和精胺(Spm)含量的变化,探讨多胺在外生菌根提高马尾松抗旱能力过程中的作用.结果显示:接种外生菌根真菌能够显著提高植株定植土壤的保水能力,显著降低植株的萎蔫率和萎蔫度;在干旱胁迫过程中,菌根化植株的Spm含量、多胺总量均高于对照植株且含量相对稳定,而菌根化植株和对照植株的Spd含量均无明显变化, 对照植株和紫金蜡蘑菌根化植株的Put含量相对较高且变化幅度较大.研究发现,外生菌根能提高马尾松植株内源Spm含量和Put的降解能力,调节各种内源多胺的分配比例,最终显著提高马尾松植株的抗旱能力.     

接种菌根真菌对青冈栎幼苗耐旱性的影响

利用丛枝菌根真菌摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)、根内球囊霉(Glomus intraradices)和外生菌根真菌彩色豆马勃(Pisolithus tinctorius)对石漠化地区造林树种青冈栎(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)幼苗进行接种试验。在大棚盆栽条件下模拟土壤干旱胁迫,研究菌根真菌对青冈栎生长和耐旱性的影响。结果表明:在土壤干旱条件下,接种菌根处理植株生物量显著高于未接种处理(P0.05),菌根依赖性随土壤水分含量降低而升高;未接种处理植株叶绿素含量在土壤干旱条件下显著降低(P0.05),除接种Pisolithus tinctorius处理外,其它接种处理叶绿素含量无显著变化。土壤干旱使植株体内脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量上升,在中度干旱条件下,接种处理可溶性糖含量均显著高于对照处理,接种Glomus intraradices、Pisolithus tinctorius处理脯氨酸含量显著低于对照(P0.05);在重度干旱条件下,接种Glomus mosseae和Glomus intraradices处理可溶性糖含量显著高于对照处理(P0.05),而相应的脯氨酸含量显著低于对照处理。当土壤水分含量在田间持水量55%—65%时,接种处理植株SOD、POD和CAT酶活性显著高于未接种处理(P0.05),在土壤水分含量降至35%—45%时,Glomus mosseae和Glomus intraradices处理SOD酶活性显著高于对照,并且所有接种处理POD酶活性均显著高于对照。此外,在水分干旱条件下,植株全磷和全钾含量也显著高于未接种处理(P0.05)。研究表明,丛枝菌根真菌和外生菌根真菌均能够侵染青冈栎幼苗根系;在干旱胁迫条件下,接种菌根真菌能够提高青冈栎植株生物量、抗氧化酶活性、增加植株可溶性糖含量和促进植株养分吸收,提高植株耐旱性,从而使青冈栎幼苗在岩溶干旱环境下更容易存活。     

模拟氮沉降和接种外生菌根真菌对马尾松(Pinus massoniana)幼苗营养元素的影响

量化植物地上部和地下部元素含量对于理解和预测植物养分平衡如何响应大气氮沉降的变化至关重要。通过盆栽试验研究了氮沉降增加背景下外生菌根真菌对马尾松幼苗营养元素的影响。对马尾松幼苗进行了接种两种外生菌根真菌：（彩色豆马勃（Pisolithus tinctorius，Pt）与厚环乳牛肝菌（Suillus grevillei，Sg））以及4种氮素浓度添加：0 kg N hm^-2a^-1（N0）、正常氮沉降30 kg N hm^-2a^-1（N30）、中度氮沉降60 kg N hm^-2a^-1（N60）、重度氮沉降90 kg N hm^-2a^-1（N90），共12个处理，测定了马尾松地上部和地下部大量元素和微量元素的含量。结果表明：施氮改变了营养元素在马尾松幼苗地上部和地下部的含量，马尾松幼苗磷（P）、钙（Ca）、铁（Fe）、锰（Mn）等元素均在N60时达到临界值，而当输入的量超过了马尾松对氮的需求时，氮沉降会使马尾松营养元素含量较最适浓度时降低，地上部碳（C）随施氮浓度的升高先升高后降低，N随施氮浓度的升高而升高，根系和叶片钾（K）、Ca、镁（Mg）均随施氮浓度的升高而降低，施氮也降低了根系C及微量元素的含量。但在同一施氮浓度下，接种外生菌根真菌（EMF）后能够提高大多数元素的含量，N90时接种厚环乳牛肝菌（Sg）和彩色豆马勃（Pt）的叶片N含量与对照相比分别提高112.6%和138.6%，根系N含量分别提高73.1%、71.6%；N60时接种Sg和Pt的植株叶片P含量比不施氮未接种对照分别提高了166.3%、132.9%，根系P含量分别提高了40.8%、38.5%。EMF能够维持植物养分平衡，从而降低高施氮量对植物的影响效果。这为未来气候变化情景中氮沉降增加下接种EMF可以调节植物元素含量，从而达到更适应环境的元素平衡来促进生长提供理论依据。     

菌根接种对长苞铁杉幼苗生长的影响

采用天然长苞铁杉林富含菌根真菌的根际土壤,对长苞铁杉种子进行盆栽接种育苗试验,比较接种处理和未接种的长苞铁杉种子萌发率、菌根侵染率、幼苗生长、生物量分配及氮磷钾含量的差异。结果表明,外生菌根对长苞铁杉种子的萌发没有影响,对幼苗生长和氮磷钾养分的吸收有明显的促进作用,接种幼苗菌根感染率超过75%,其株高、根生物量、叶生物量和氮磷钾含量等均比对照显著增加,但对生物量在器官中的分配没有显著影响。     

水分胁迫下AM真菌对枳实生苗叶片矿质营养吸收的影响

在温室盆栽条件下研究丛枝菌根真菌(AM真菌)Glomus versiforme对水分胁迫下(正常水分为对照)的枳[Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.]实生苗叶片矿质营养吸收的影响.研究表明,水分胁迫显著抑制AM真菌对枳实生苗根系的侵染.无论在正常水分还是在水分胁迫下,AM真菌的感染显著提高枳实生苗叶片P、K和Ca的含量,水分胁迫下的菌根贡献率均高于对照;AM真菌的接种对叶片N、Mg和Cu含量没有显著影响.与未接种处理相比,AM真菌处理仅对水分胁迫下的枳实生苗叶片Fe和Zn含量有显著促进作用.研究还表明,接种处理降低叶片Mn含量,正常水分下达到显著水平.     

菌根真菌提高杨树抗溃疡病生理生化机制的研究

以107速生杨(Populus×euramericana cv.'74/76')幼苗为材料,考察了接种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和外生菌根真菌(ECMF)幼苗在受到溃疡病菌侵害后生理生化指标和抗病相关蛋白的变化,初步探讨菌根真菌诱导植物抗病性的可能机制.结果表明,两种菌根真菌都能够显著降低杨树幼苗溃疡病的感病指数和发病率,显著提高杨树叶片叶绿素、树皮可溶性蛋白含量和根系活力强度;两种菌根真菌都可以显著降低杨树感病部位的丙二醛含量和提高游离脯氨酸含量,增强杨树超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)的活性;丛枝菌根真菌能显著诱导提高杨树感病部位几丁质酶和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性,而外生菌根真菌则不能诱导或效应较低,且丛枝菌根真菌诱导杨树提高抗病性的相关指标均优于外生菌根真菌,而苗木感病指数和发病率均低于外生菌根真菌,其在幼苗期接种提高杨树抗溃疡病的效果较好.可见,在杨树受到溃疡病菌侵染时,菌根真菌可促进杨树对营养物质的吸收和生长,提高菌根苗体内保护酶活性和抗性相关化合物的含量,促使产生大量几丁质酶和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶来诱导杨树产生二次防卫反应,从而补偿病害所带来的损伤,增强抗病性.     

重庆酸雨区马尾松香樟混交林的土壤化学性质和林木生长特征

为给遭受酸化危害的重庆马尾松(Pinus massoniana)纯林的恢复与管理提供科学依据,在属于酸雨区的重庆市江北区铁山坪林场,调查了马尾松香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)混交林的土壤化学性质和林木生长状况,并与毗邻的马尾松纯林和香樟纯林进行了比较。结果表明,与马尾松纯林相比,混交林腐殖质层和土壤酸度降低,交换性盐基离子Ca2+和Mg2+含量增加,酸性阳离子Al3+和H+含量明显减少(p0.05)。混交林马尾松树冠下腐殖质层和0–60cm土层马尾松细根的干重、长度、表面积、体积和根尖数的总密度都显著低于马尾松纯林(p0.05),比值分别为0.44、0.71、0.59、0.46和0.71,马尾松树高显著低于马尾松纯林(p0.05),其针叶变色率为15%,显著高于马尾松纯林(p0.05),香樟的生长特征与香樟纯林相似。结果说明,尽管混交林的土壤化学性质优于马尾松纯林,但林中马尾松的生长状况表现出了明显的恶化迹象,而香樟依然比较健康,这可能与香樟具有明显的竞争优势有关。因此,在利用香樟营造与马尾松的混交林来改善遭受酸化危害的马尾松纯林的生长状况时,应注意调控香樟的竞争优势。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi protect a subtropical tree species exposed to simulated acid rain by accelerating photosynthetic ability,antioxidant enzymes and osmolyte accumulation

丛枝菌根真菌对其宿主光合能力、抗氧化酶和渗透物质积累的促进作用 及其抗酸雨机制的探讨 酸雨在中国南方发生频繁,对亚热带树种生长具有明显抑制作用。以往研究表明,丛枝菌根真菌(AM真菌)可以缓解酸雨对宿主植物的胁迫效应。榉树(Zelkova serrata)为中国南方主要经济树种之一,其如何与共生AM真菌协同、增强其抗酸雨胁迫的能力是本项研究所要探讨的关键科学问题。通过温室控制实验,将榉树幼苗随机接受4个水平的AM真菌接种处理(接种灭菌菌种;单独接种Rhizophagus intraradices;单独接种Diversispora versiformis;接种这两种菌种的混合菌种)和3个pH水平(pH2.5、pH4.0和pH5.6)的硫酸型酸雨和硝酸型酸雨处理组成的12个处理组合,同时测定其生长、光合性能、抗氧化酶、渗透调节和土壤酶的响应格局。研究发现酸雨处理显著降低了非菌根榉树幼苗的总干重、总叶绿素含量、叶片净光合速率和可溶性蛋白的含量;接种AM真菌,特别是接种混合菌种,显著提高了强酸胁迫下榉树幼苗的总干重、光合性能、丙二醛、过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶、可溶性蛋白和根系酸性磷酸酶活性。此外,菌根效应依赖于AM真菌的种类和酸胁迫的梯度。本研究 结果表明,AM真菌对榉树幼苗抗酸胁迫的调控作用主要源于调节宿主植株光合能力、抗氧化酶和渗透物质的积累。榉树与其共生AM真菌在应对酸胁迫上协同机制的解析为该树种在中国南方酸雨区的栽培提供理论基础、具有重要的实践指导意义。     

酸雨对三峡库区4种植物幼苗光合生理及根际土壤的影响北大核心CSCD

近年来酸雨的酸性和频率越来越高,酸雨类型逐渐由硫酸型向硫酸-硝酸混合型及硝酸型转变。该研究以两年生马尾松、杉木、青冈和毛竹幼苗为试验材料,通过4个月的盆栽实验对幼苗进行硫酸型(SAR)、硝酸型(NAR)和混合型(MAR)酸雨及其各自3个酸雨浓度(pH 2.5、pH 3.5、pH 4.5)的处理,并以pH 5.7的蒸馏水为对照组,对植物的净光合速率、叶绿素含量、树种株高变化量以及植物根际土壤pH值和交换性盐基离子含量进行测定,以探究植物幼苗对模拟酸雨的敏感性及抗性特征,为酸雨受灾区的植被建设和抗酸树种的培育提供参考数据。结果表明:(1)不同浓度及类型酸雨在一定程度上能够抑制植物的净光合速率、阻碍叶绿素的合成,即酸雨浓度越高,植物净光合速率越低,叶绿素含量越少。(2)低浓度酸雨能够促进植物株高的增长,但随着酸雨浓度的增大,植物株高增长量受到严重抑制,且马尾松和青冈的表现最为明显。(3)植物根际土壤在低浓度酸雨胁迫下能够有效释放出盐基离子中和酸根离子从而降低酸雨的毒害,但随着酸雨浓度的增大,盐基离子含量不断衰减,土壤pH值逐渐减小。(4)杉木、马尾松、毛竹、青冈的平均隶属度值在不同酸雨类型作用下的表现不尽相同,总体上杉木对硫酸型和混合型酸雨的抗性最强,而毛竹能耐受硝酸型及混合型酸雨,青冈相比其他3种树种对酸雨的抗性最弱。研究发现,马尾松对硝酸型酸雨最敏感,且受胁迫的pH阈值为2.5~3.5,但对硫酸型酸雨表现出明显的抗性;杉木对3种类型酸雨的抗性较其他3种树种要强,毛竹抵抗硝酸型酸雨能力强于其他2种酸雨,而青冈对硝酸型酸雨的抵抗力强于其他2种酸雨且是抗酸能力最弱的树种,毛竹、杉木及青冈受酸雨胁迫的pH阈值为3.5~4.5;4种植物对酸雨的综合抵抗能力表现为杉木>毛竹>马尾松>青冈。     

茉莉酸甲酯对马尾松萜类合成酶活性及其细胞化学定位的影响

马尾松(Pinus massoniana)是我国南方生态建设与造林用材的主要树种,为了揭示马尾松抗虫机理尤其是诱导抗虫性的分子机制,该研究以马尾松幼苗为材料,通过外源喷施茉利酸甲酯(Me JA),分析了处理与对照间植株针叶显微结构、萜类合成酶活性及其细胞化学定位的变化。结果表明:在0.2 mmol·L~(-1)Me JA处理下马尾松植株松针中萜类物质,尤其是单萜、二萜的相对含量增加,马尾松毛虫拒食性明显,诱导抗性增强。显微观测中,针叶叶肉细胞内树脂道分泌物增加,叶绿体数目减少,但叶绿体体积增大,叶绿体片层结构增加。Me JA处理4周后,针叶中萜类合成酶活性增加,通过电镜酶细胞化学观察,膜系统尤其是叶绿体膜上萜类合成酶活性定位明显增强。这说明Me JA诱导的马尾松诱导抗性可能与改变的叶绿体结构及绿色质体萜类合成酶活性密切相关。     

Mycorrhizal associations in Pinus massoniana Lamb. and Pinus elliottii Engel. inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius

Dichotomous mycorrhizas were induced in Pinus massoniana and Pinus elliottii seedlings inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius growing under non-axenic conditions. Six months after inoculation, Pinus massoniana seedlings exhibited a higher degree of infection, bore more mycorrhizas and had developed more abundant extramatrical mycelium than seedlings of Pinus elliottii. Nevertheless, seedlings of Pinus massoniana were stunted and exhibited chorosis of the needles, indicating a possible nutrient deficiency. Histological examination of these pine mycorrhizas showed an ectomycorrhizal association typical of gymnosperms with an intercellular Harting net penetrating between several layers of cortical cells close to the endodermis. However, strong polyphenolic reactions, intracellular hyphae and wall modifications were occasionally observed, indicating that both host-tissue incompatibility and ectendomycorrhizal association can occur in pine species under stressed conditions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium frequentans</Emphasis> isolated from<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Picea glehnii</Emphasis> seedling roots as a possible biological control agent against damping-off

Picea glehnii seedlings are affected by damping-off fungi in nurseries. The aims of this study were (1) to isolate fungi grown in the seedling rhizosphere in forest soil of P. glehnii, (2) to select fungi that produce antifungal compounds against Pythium vexans, and (3) to examine whether or not selected fungi can protect seedlings from P. vexans. Penicillium frequentans from Picea glehnii seedling roots produced antibiotic penicillic acid. Penicillic acid did not cause significant phytotoxicity to the seedlings. Penicillium frequentans increased the average percentage of surviving seedlings when inoculated together with Pythium vexans, but the increase was not significant. Vigorous mycelial growth of P. frequentans around seedling roots seems to be one of the mechanisms for protection, but the amount of penicillic acid was too low to show antifungal activity in the seedling rhizosphere.     

Influence of colonisation by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on the growth of seedlings of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Banksia ericifolia</Emphasis> (Proteaceae)

Tap and primary lateral roots of seedlings of the putatively non-mycorrhizal Banksia ericifolia became marginally colonised when grown in an established mycelium of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus in the laboratory. A similar degree of colonisation was found in seedlings from an open woodland. All colonies lacked arbuscules. Two factors influencing colonisation and associated growth of host plants were examined experimentally: concentration of P in the soil and organic energy associated with the fungus. While some inoculated seedlings were slightly smaller when colonised by AM fungi, the results were inconsistent and never statistically significant. Seedlings take up insignificant quantities of soil P during early growth, even in the presence of abundant added P. Though colonisation was minor in all cases, an existing mycelium, whether or not connected to a companion plant, slightly increased the amount of root of B. ericifolia colonised by an AM fungus. All seedlings grew slowly. Shoots were significantly larger than roots, until the initiation of proteoid roots which commenced at about 40 days after germination, with both relatively high and low P supply.     

The presence of aluminum in arbuscular mycorrhizas of Clusia multiflora exposed to increased acidity

In this work, we present the results obtained after 9 months of watering with acidic solutions seedlings of Clusia multiflora, inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The fungi were isolated from acid and neutral soil. C.multiflora is a tropical woody species that naturally grows on acid soils high in soluble Al. The research evaluated if arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) could be responsible at least partially for the tolerance to acidity and to aluminum of C.multiflora and if an inoculum of AM fungi (AMF) coming from acid soils contributes more to the tolerance of acidity of C. multiflora than one coming from neutral soils. Results showed that in the absence of AMF (control treatment), the seedlings of C. multiflora did not grow, indicating that this species is highly dependent on AMF. When C. multiflora was exposed to a very acidic solution (pH 3), plants inoculated with AMF from acid soils were taller than those inoculated with AMF from neutral soils. Acidity affected root growth and root length. Plants inoculated with AMF from neutral soils showed thicker roots and lower shoot-root relationships than those inoculated with AMF from acid soils. Acidity did not affect root growth of C. multiflora inoculated with AMF from acid soils even when they were watered with solutions of pH 3. All plants accumulated high quantities of Al in roots (>10000 mg.kg ^–1), but plants inoculated with AMF from acid soils, accumulated less aluminum in roots than plants from the other treatments. A histochemical study of the distribution of Al in roots showed that in mycorrhizal plants, the aluminum was bound to the cell walls in the mycelium of the fungus, mainly in the vesicles or in auxiliary cells, a fact showed for the first time in this work.     

Effects of pH on NaCl tolerance of American elm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulmus americana</Emphasis>) seedlings inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hebeloma crustuliniforme</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laccaria bicolor</Emphasis>

In the present study, we investigated the effects of pH treatments on NaCl tolerance in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal American elm. American elm (Ulmus americana) seedlings were inoculated with Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Laccaria bicolor or with both mycorrhizal fungi and subsequently subjected to different pH solutions (pH 3, 6 and 9) containing 0 mM (control) and 60 mM NaCl for 4 weeks. Inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungi did not have a large effect on seedling dry weights when the pH and NaCl treatments were considered independently. However, when the inoculated seedlings were treated with 60 mM NaCl at pH 3 or 6, shoot to root ratios and root hydraulic conductivity were higher compared with non-inoculated plants, likely reflecting changes in seedling water flow properties. At pH 6, transpiration rates were about twofold lower in non-inoculated plants treated with NaCl compared with non-treated controls. For NaCl-treated H. crustuliniforme- and L. bicolor-inoculated plants, the greatest reduction of transpiration rates was at pH 9. Treatment with 60 mM NaCl reduced leaf chlorophyll concentrations more in non-inoculated compared with inoculated plants, with the greatest, twofold, decrease occurring at pH 6. At pH 3, root Na concentrations were higher in inoculated than non-inoculated seedlings; however, there was no effect of inoculation on root Na concentrations at pH 6 and 9. Contrary to the roots, the leaves of inoculated plants had lower Na concentrations at pH 6 and 9, but not at pH 3. The results point to an interaction between ECM fungi and root zone pH for salt tolerance of American elm.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on inter- and intraspecific competition of two grassland species

We were interested in the role of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in the competition between plants of different sizes. A pot experiment of factorial design was established, in which AM root colonization and competition were used as treatments. Five-week-old Prunella vulgaris seedlings were chosen as target plants (i.e. plants whose response to competition was studied) and the following (13 replicates of each) were used as neighbours: (1) a large, 10-week-old P. vulgaris, (2) two P. vulgaris seedlings, and (3) a large, 10-week-old Fragaria vesca. In the experiment where small neighbours were grown together with small target plants, competition did not reduce target plant weight significantly, compared to the other two treatments. The competitive effects of large neighbours were significant, regardless of species (both older neighbours reduced the weights of target plants similarly), but there was a clear difference between intra- and interspecific competition when plants were mycorrhizal. In intraspecific competition with a large neighbour, the target plant shoot weight was reduced 24% when inoculated with AM. Thus, AM amplified rather than balanced intraspecific competition. In interspecific competition with old F. vesca, the shoot weights of target plants were 22% greater when inoculated with AM than when non-mycorrhizal. The results showed that, for given soil condition, AM might increase species diversity by increasing competitive intraspecific suppression and decreasing the interspecific suppression of small plants by larger neighbours.     

Is Fe deficiency rather than P deficiency the cause of cluster root formation in Casuarina species?

When subjected, directly (through nutritional deficiencies) or indirectly (through alkaline constraints leading to such deficiencies) to nutrient deficiencies, certain plants respond by developing special root structures called cluster roots. This phenomenon can be considered as an ecophysiological response to a specific nutrient deficiency enabling plants to enhance nutrient uptake. Experiments conducted on an alkaline and an acid soil showed that Casuarina glauca (Sieber ex Spreng.) produced cluster roots only in the alkaline soil and not in the acid soil. In addition, iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies were examined separately or together to determine their effect on cluster root formation in C. glauca seedlings grown hydroponically. Results from experiments carried out on three Casuarina species (C. glauca, C. cunninghamiana Miq. and C. equisetifolia L.) indicated that Fe is involved in cluster root formation. In nutrient media lacking P but containing Fe, no cluster roots formed while seedlings receiving P and lacking Fe developed cluster roots. When incubated on chrome-azurol S-agar on blue plates (CAS assay), a technique used routinely to detect the production of siderophores by micro-organisms, the root system of Fe-deficient plants exhibited orange halos around cluster roots, indicating production of a ferric-chelating agent. It is concluded that the capacity of cluster roots of C. glauca to chelate Fe allows the plant to grow normally on alkaline soils.