丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）对外来植物入侵反馈机制的研究进展

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）在植物群落竞争演替、物种多样性的形成及群落空间分布格局、植物群落对全球变化的响应中均起着重要的调节作用;同样也能影响外来植物与本地植物的互作,影响外来植物入侵过程中植物群落演替进程,甚至决定入侵的成败。因此,AMF与外来植物共生及其对外来植物入侵的反馈已成为国际上外来植物入侵机制研究的一个热点。本文基于外来植物的入侵过程,从AMF对外来植物生长、外来植物与本地植物竞争关系的影响,以及外来植物入侵对AMF的影响及AMF对入侵的反馈3个方面综述了AMF对外来植物入侵的反馈机制。外来植物可以通过多种途径改变土著AMF的群落结构和功能,而土著AMF也能直接或间接地改变甚至逆转外来植物与入侵地植物的互作关系。未来的研究不仅需要考虑AMF与外来植物共生的菌根特性和对竞争关系的影响,还需要通过大尺度条件下的野外试验及室内补充试验深入探究影响AMF在外来植物与本地植物竞争演替中的作用的生物和非生物因子,以全面解释AMF影响外来植物入侵的反馈机制。     

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria alleviates competition between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Solidago canadensis for nutrients under nitrogen limitation

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)能与大多数陆生植物的根系形成共生体, 有助于宿主植物吸收养分。但营养胁迫下, 根系微生物对AMF与宿主植物间关系的影响少见报道。该研究假设: 在营养极度匮乏(如氮胁迫)环境下, AMF与宿主植物可能产生营养竞争, 而固氮菌的介入能够缓解两者对营养的竞争关系。为了验证这一假设, 该文探究了加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)生长受限的氮浓度, 并在氮受限条件下检验了AMF、加拿大一枝黄花及固氮菌三者间的关系。结果表明: 低氮处理明显抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的地上生物量和总生物量, 尤其以0.025 mmol·L^-1 N的氨态氮对加拿大一枝黄花的负影响更甚。在此氮浓度下, 单独添加AMF总体上都进一步抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的生长, 而固氮菌的添加在一定程度上提高了氮受限条件下AMF对宿主的根部侵染率及宿主植物生物量。这表明固氮菌能够缓和氮受限条件下AMF和加拿大一枝黄花间的营养竞争关系。研究结果加深了对外来植物在极度营养胁迫环境下与多种微生物互作的入侵机制的理解。     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Solidago canadensis growth are independent of nitrogen form

丛枝菌根真菌对加拿大一枝黄花生长的影响不受氮形态的调节 越来越多的研究结果表明,入侵植物能通过改变土壤真菌群落直接或间接的促进自身生长。土壤氮含量高低影响植物与丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的共生关系,进而影响植物生长。然而,氮形态是否会改变入侵植物- 相互作用,以及被改变的AMF群落是否影响入侵植物和本地植物对不同氮形态的依赖性尚未可知。鉴于此,本研究以加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)为研究对象,结合野外驯化和室内接种实验,探讨了群落水平上该入侵植物的生长,以及入侵植物-AMF相互作用对不同形态氮添加的响应。首先,选择30对加拿大一枝黄花入侵群落和相近的非入侵群落,并用湿筛法从土壤中获取入侵AMF孢子和非入侵AMF孢子,同时构建两种人工群落：加拿大一枝黄花群落(N = 4)和本地植物群落(N = 4);然后 将入侵和非入侵AMF孢子接种至两种人工群落中,并在生长期间分别供应3种形态氮(NO₃-N、NH₄-N、Gly-N);生长结束后收获各植物群落地上、地下生物量,测定加拿大一枝黄花的形态特征。研究结果发现,加拿大一枝黄花未表现出显著的氮形态依赖性,本地植物则表现出较弱的氮形态依赖性;但入侵AMF可消除氮形态对本地植物的影响。在无氮源供应时,AMF不影响两种植物群落的生长,而提供任一形态氮源时,入侵AMF均显著促进该入侵植物的地下生物量和总生物量而不改变本地植物的生长。加拿大一枝黄花-AMF正相互作用强度显著大于本地植物-AMF相互作用的强度,且这种正的相互作用是通过直接或间接调节加拿大一枝黄花的表型特征(如株高、叶数、根状茎数量等)来实现的。该研究强调了植物-AMF相互作用在入侵中的重要性,并揭示了加拿大一枝黄花特殊的氮获取策略,为进一步研究入侵机制提供了重要的依据。     

固氮菌缓解氮限制环境中丛枝菌根真菌对加拿大一枝黄花的营养竞争

丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)能与大多数陆生植物的根系形成共生体, 有助于宿主植物吸收养分。但营养胁迫下, 根系微生物对AMF与宿主植物间关系的影响少见报道。该研究假设: 在营养极度匮乏(如氮胁迫)环境下, AMF与宿主植物可能产生营养竞争, 而固氮菌的介入能够缓解两者对营养的竞争关系。为了验证这一假设, 该文探究了加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)生长受限的氮浓度, 并在氮受限条件下检验了AMF、加拿大一枝黄花及固氮菌三者间的关系。结果表明: 低氮处理明显抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的地上生物量和总生物量, 尤其以0.025 mmol·L^-1 N的氨态氮对加拿大一枝黄花的负影响更甚。在此氮浓度下, 单独添加AMF总体上都进一步抑制了加拿大一枝黄花的生长, 而固氮菌的添加在一定程度上提高了氮受限条件下AMF对宿主的根部侵染率及宿主植物生物量。这表明固氮菌能够缓和氮受限条件下AMF和加拿大一枝黄花间的营养竞争关系。研究结果加深了对外来植物在极度营养胁迫环境下与多种微生物互作的入侵机制的理解。     

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。     

Severe plant invasions can increase mycorrhizal fungal abundance and diversity

Invasions by non-native plants can alter ecosystem functions and reduce native plant diversity, but relatively little is known about their effect on belowground microbial communities. We show that invasions by knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula, hereafter spurge)—but not cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)—support a higher abundance and diversity of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) than multi-species native plant communities. The higher AMF richness associated with knapweed and spurge is unlikely due to a co-invasion by AMF, because a separate sampling showed that individual native forbs hosted a similar AMF abundance and richness as exotic forbs. Native grasses associated with fewer AMF taxa, which could explain the reduced AMF richness in native, grass-dominated communities. The three invasive plant species harbored distinct AMF communities, and analyses of co-occurring native and invasive plants indicate that differences were partly driven by the invasive plants and were not the result of pre-invasion conditions. Our results suggest that invasions by mycotrophic plants that replace poorer hosts can increase AMF abundance and richness. The high AMF richness in monodominant plant invasions also indicates that the proposed positive relationship between above and belowground diversity is not always strong. Finally, the disparate responses among exotic plants and consistent results between grasses and forbs suggest that AMF respond more to plant functional group than plant provenance.     

广州地区7种菊科入侵植物丛枝菌根侵染和根际土壤孢子密度的生境差异性分析

为了解广州地区7种菊科(Compositae)入侵植物与丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)的互作共生关系,调查了这7种菊科入侵植物在4种生境中的AMF侵染和根际土壤孢子密度,并分析土壤因子对AMF的影响。结果表明,7种入侵植物根内均受到AMF侵染,根际土壤中均检测到AMF孢子;AMF侵染在宿主间差异显著,生境间的差异不显著;孢子密度在生境和宿主间的差异均显著,人工绿地、农田果园的AMF孢子密度均显著高于森林周边和滨海地带。相关性分析表明,农田果园生境的根际土壤孢子密度与土壤有机质含量呈显著负相关关系;森林周边生境的AMF总侵染率与土壤全氮呈极显著正相关关系;人工绿地的AMF总侵染率与土壤速效氮含量呈显著负相关关系;滨海地带的AMF总侵染率与土壤有效磷含量呈显著负相关关系。这些对理解菊科植物入侵机理具有非常重要的作用。     

丛枝菌根真菌在外来植物入侵演替中的作用与机制

外来植物入侵不仅是环境、经济和社会问题,也是一个生理学和生态学问题,尤其是入侵植物与本地植物、入侵植物和本地土壤生物之间的相互作用决定外来植物入侵程度。丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）作为土壤中一类极为重要的功能生物,在外来植物入侵演替过程中发挥多种不同作用。文章系统总结了AMF对入侵植物个体和群体的影响,入侵植物与本地植物竞争中AMF发挥的促进和抑制作用;探讨了AMF与入侵植物的相互作用关系,以及环境因子对AMF一入侵植物关系的影响：对AMF在外来植物入侵演替中的作用机制进行了讨论。旨在为探索控制生物入侵的新途径、为我国开展外来植物入侵研究与防控实践提供新思路。     

Plant mortality varies with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species identities in a self-thinning population

Because arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species differ in stimulating the growth of particular host plant species, AMF species may vary in their effects on plant intra-specific competition and the self-thinning process. We tested this hypothesis using a microcosm experiment with Medicago sativa L. as a model plant population and four AMF species. Our results showed that the AMF species Glomus diaphanum stimulated host plant growth more than the other three AMF species did when the plants were grown individually. Glomus diaphanum also induced the highest rate of mortality in the self-thinning plant populations. We also found a positive correlation between mortality and growth response to colonization. Our results demonstrate that AMF species can affect plant mortality and the self-thinning process by affecting plant growth differently.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species-specifically affect induced plant responses to a spider mite

It is widely recognized that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improve plant growth and nutrient conditions, but their effects can vary from negative to positive depending on AMF species. Since the performance of herbivorous arthropods varies with plant quality, different AMF species should differently affect the density of herbivorous arthropods on plants and the herbivore-induced plant responses. We examined the indirect effects of AMF on the number of spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and the number of damaged leaves in an outdoor glass-chamber experiment, using Lotus japonicus plants inoculated with one of four different AMF species (Gigaspora margarita, Glomus etunicatum, Gl. intraradices, and Acaulospora longula). Plants with Gi. margarita and A. longula had significantly fewer female mites than plants with Gl. etunicatum and Gl. intraradices, and plants with Gi. margarita had the fewest damaged leaves, followed by plants with A. longula, Gl. intraradices, and Gl. etunicatum. To examine species-specific effects of AMF on herbivore-induced plant responses, we carried out a bioassay with eggs laid by spider mites, and analyses of leaf chemicals (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and total phenolics) using plants subjected or not subjected to herbivory. The bioassay showed that mite egg production and its changes following mite herbivory changed depending on the AMF species. In addition, Principal component analysis for leaf chemicals revealed not only mite-induced changes in leaf chemical composition, but also AMF effects on the herbivore-induced response in a species-specific way. Thus, we need to pay more attention to the species identity of AMF as an important factor in determining the strength of effects of belowground AMF on the performance and/or preferences of aboveground herbivores.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce the construction of extrafloral nectaries in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis>

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alter the physiology and morphology of their host plant, and therefore may have indirect effects on insect herbivores and pollinators. We conducted this study to test the hypothesis that AMF can also affect insects involved in protection-for-food mutualisms. We examined the constitutive and inducible production of food rewards [extrafloral (EF) nectaries] in Vicia faba plants by manipulating the presence/absence of AMF and by simulating various levels of herbivory. Plants inoculated with AMF produced significantly fewer EF nectaries than uninoculated plants, even after accounting for differences in plant growth. In contrast to earlier studies, EF nectaries were not inducible: damaged plants produced significantly fewer EF nectaries than undamaged plants. Moreover, the effects of mycorrhizal and damage status on EF nectary production were additive. The reduction in EF nectaries in mycorrhizal plants potentially represents a mechanism for indirect effects of AMF on the protective insects that exploit EF nectaries as a food source (e.g., ants). Reduced reward size should result in reduced protection by ants, and could therefore be a previously unappreciated cost of the mycorrhizal symbiosis to host plants. However, the overall effect of AMF will depend upon the extent to which the reduction of EF nectaries affects the number and activity of ants and the extent to which AMF alter other aspects of host plant physiology. Our results emphasize the complexity of multitrophic interactions, particularly those that span belowground and aboveground ecology.     

Evidence for phylogenetic correlation of plant–AMF assemblages?

Background and Aims Specificity in biotic interactions is mediated'' by functional traits inducing shifts in the community species composition. Functional traits are often evolutionarily conserved, resulting in closely related species tending to interact with similar species. This tendency may initially shape the phylogenetic composition of coexisting guilds, but other intraguild ecological processes may either blur or promote the mirroring of the phylogenetic compositions between guilds. The roles of intra- and interguild interactions in shaping the phylogenetic community composition are largely unknown, beyond the mere selectivity in the interguild interactions. Plant facilitation is a phylogenetically structured species-specific process involving interactions not only between the same guild of plants, but also between plants and other guilds such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In this study it is hypothesized that reciprocal plant–AMF interactions will leave an interdependent phylogenetic signal in the community composition of both plants and AMF.Methods A correlation was used to test for a relationship between the phylogenetic composition of plant and AMF assemblages in a patchy xeric shrubland environment shaped by plant facilitation. In addition, a null model was used to test whether this correlation can be solely explained by selectivity in plant–AMF interactions.Key Results A significant correlation was observed between the phylogenetic composition of plant and AMF assemblages. Plant phylogenetic composition in a patch was related to the predominance of plant species with high nursery quality that can influence the community assembly. AMF phylogenetic composition was related to the AMF phylogenetic diversity in each patch.Conclusions This study shows that shifts in the phylogenetic composition of plants and AMF assemblages do not occur independently. It is suggested that besides selectivity in plant–AMF interactions, inter-related succession dynamics of plants and AMF within patches could be an ecological mechanism driving community assembly. Future lines of research might explore whether interlinked above- and below-ground dynamics could be occurring across multiple guilds simultaneously.     

Independent effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworms on plant diversity and newcomer plant establishment

Questions: How do arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworms affect the structure and diversity of a ruderal plant community? Is the establishment success of newcomer plants enhanced by these soil organisms and their interactions? Methods: We grew a native ruderal plant community composed of different functional groups (grasses, legumes and forbs) in the presence and absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and endogeic earthworms in mesocosms. We introduced seeds of five, mainly exotic, plant species from the same functional groups after a disturbance simulating mowing. The effects of the soil organisms on the native ruderal plant community and seedling establishment of the newcomer plants were assessed. Results: After disturbance, the total above‐ground regrowth of the native plant community was not affected by the soil organisms. However, AMF increased plant diversity and shoot biomass of forbs, but decreased shoot biomass of grasses of the native plant community. Earthworms led to a reduction in total root biomass. Establishment of the introduced newcomer plants increased in the presence of AMF and earthworms. Especially, seedling establishment of the introduced non‐native legume Lupinus polyphyllus and the native forb Plantago lanceolata was promoted in the presence of AMF and earthworms, respectively. The endogeic earthworms gained more weight in the presence of AMF and led to increased extraradical AMF hyphal length in soil. However, earthworms did not seem to modify the effect of AMF on the plant community. Conclusion: The present study shows the importance of mutualistic soil organisms in mediating the establishment success of newcomer plants in a native plant community. Mutualistic soil organisms lead to changes in the structure and diversity of the native plant community and might promote newcomer plants, including exotic species.     

丛枝菌根真菌对入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊生长及竞争力的影响

【背景】丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)能促进植物的养分吸收及生长发育。入侵中国华南地区的外来入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)常分布于养分匮乏的荒地,却能迅速生长并排挤本地植物而快速扩张领地。【目的】探究丛枝菌根真菌是否促进南美蟛蜞菊的生长与竞争能力。【方法】采用南美蟛蜞菊及其同属本地植物蟛蜞菊(Wedelia chinensis)的盆栽对比控制试验,并设置接种及不接种AMF变形球囊霉(Glomus versiforme)、不同磷营养水平以及单种或混种的种植方式3种处理对两种植物的生长及竞争能力进行比较。【结果】AMF均能侵染上述两种植物,并且AMF对南美蟛蜞菊根系的侵染率显著高于其对蟛蜞菊根系的侵染,尤其是在低磷水平下南美蟛蜞菊的菌根侵染率更高,而且AMF的侵染显著促进了低磷水平下南美蟛蜞菊的生长及其对蟛蜞菊的竞争能力。【结论】丛枝菌根真菌能够促进南美蟛蜞菊的生长,增强其对本地植物的竞争优势,该效应很可能对外来植物南美蟛蜞菊的成功入侵产生一定的作用。     

丛枝菌根真菌最新分类系统与物种多样性研究概况

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)是自然界分布最广泛的一类植物共生真菌,能够与大部分高等植物的根系形成共生关系.由于它们在农林、环境等领域的巨大应用潜力,国内外关于AMF物种多样性的研究一直受到较高的关注.然而,AMF专性共生的特征以及研究方法不够理想等因素长期阻碍了AMF物种多样性的研究进展.近年来,研究方法的改进与新技术的应用为AMF物种多样性的研究提供了极好的机遇.简述了AMF的最新分类系统及全球物种数量、AMF物种多样性影响因素以及AMF物种多样性研究方法三个方面的研究进展,并分析了今后在AMF物种多样性相关领域值得关注的研究方向.     

Grassland invaders and their mycorrhizal symbionts: a study across climate and invasion gradients

Controlled experiments show that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase competitiveness of exotic plants, potentially increasing invasion success. We surveyed AMF abundance and community composition in Centaurea stoebe and Potentilla recta invasions in the western USA to assess whether patterns were consistent with mycorrhizal-mediated invasions. We asked whether (1) AMF abundance and community composition differ between native and exotic forbs, (2) associations between native plants and AMF shift with invading exotic plants, and (3) AMF abundance and/or community composition differ in areas where exotic plants are highly invasive and in areas where they are not. We collected soil and roots from invaded and native forb communities along invasion gradients and in regions with different invasion densities. We used AMF root colonization as a measure of AMF abundance and characterized AMF communities in roots using 454-sequencing of the LSU-rDNA region. All plants were highly colonized (>60%), but exotic forbs tended to be more colonized than natives (P < 0.001). We identified 30 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) across sites, and community composition was best predicted by abiotic factors (soil texture, pH). Two OTUs in the genera Glomus and Rhizophagus dominated in most communities, and their dominance increased with invasion density (r = 0.57, P = 0.010), while overall OTU richness decreased with invasion density (r = −0.61, P = 0.006). Samples along P. recta invasion gradients revealed small and reciprocal shifts in AMF communities with >45% fungal OTUs shared between neighboring native and P. recta plants. Overall, we observed significant, but modest, differences in AMF colonization and communities between co-occurring exotic and native forbs and among exotic forbs across regions that differ in invasion pressure. While experimental manipulations are required to assess functional consequences, the observed patterns are not consistent with those expected from strong mycorrhizal-mediated invasions.     

Comprehensive insight into arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,Trichoderma spp. and plant multilevel interactions with emphasis on biostimulation of horticultural crops

Sustainability and a more environment-friendly approach is an emerging issue relevant to crop production. Abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, heat, cold or heavy metal pollution can severely compromise yields, and in this respect, plant protection practices should be highly efficient as well as safe for the environment and people. Among the many ways to achieve high productivity of healthy, safe and tasty food, the use of beneficial micro-organisms as biostimulants is the most promising one. Two types of soil fungi can be considered efficient natural plants stimulants: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma spp. (TR). Generally, most investigations indicated AMF and TR were effective, as well as safe, for use as natural biopreparations dedicated to horticultural crops, although some reports pointed to their negative impact on plants. This review focuses on the mutual interaction of AMF and TR, as well as complex relationships with plants analysed on a multidimensional level: biochemical, morphological, ecological and agrotechnical. AMF and TR were found to be effective elicitors of root system development, nutrient uptake, plant stress response and production of secondary metabolites. As natural plant stimulants, beneficial fungi are compatible with modern trends of crop management, environmental conservation and functional food production. Herein, we demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of AMF and TR use in horticulture and their prospects, as well as the points that need further exploring.     

外来植物紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤理化性质及丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落的影响

为了揭示外来植物紫茎泽兰入侵对入侵地土壤丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落及相关肥力的影响,比较测定了紫茎泽兰不同入侵程度土壤理化性质、AMF侵染率及AMF群落的差异。结果表明,紫茎泽兰入侵降低了土壤pH,使土壤中有机碳、全氮和速效钾含量分别增加83.0%,106.9%和111.0%;尽管对全磷含量没有显著影响,但有机磷含量呈升高的趋势,而速效磷呈降低的趋势。紫茎泽兰入侵降低了本地植物的AMF侵染率;随着入侵程度的加深,土壤中以膨胀无梗囊霉(Acauospora dilatata)为优势种的AMF群落结构逐渐转变为以近明球囊霉(Glomus claroideum )为优势种的结构,紫茎泽兰可在其根周选择培育近明球囊霉,而对其它AMF种,特别是对膨胀无梗囊霉则存在抑制作用;基于各AMF种多度的聚类分析表明,形成紫茎泽兰单优群落土壤中各AMF种多度与未入侵的本地植物群落及入侵程度较轻的紫茎泽兰与本地植物群落之间存在明显分歧。综合分析推断认为,紫茎法兰入侵改变了入侵地土壤理化性状,抑制AMF对土著植物的侵染,改变AMF群落,并在其根周选择培育近明球囊霉,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵及扩张的重要途径之一。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic fertilizer influence photosynthesis,root phosphatase activity,nutrition, and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ipomoea carnea</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">fistulosa</Emphasis>

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and organic slow release fertilizer (OSRF) on photosynthesis, root phosphatase activity, nutrient acquisition, and growth of Ipomoea carnea N. von Jacquin ssp. fistulosa (K. Von Martinus ex J. Choisy) D. Austin (bush morning glory) was determined in a greenhouse study. The AMF treatments consisted of a commercial isolate of Glomus intraradices and a non-colonized (NonAMF) control. The OSRF was applied at 10, 30, and 100 % of the manufacturer’s recommended rate. AMF plants had a higher net photosynthetic rate (P _N), higher leaf elemental N, P, and K, and generally greater growth than NonAMF plants. Total colonization levels of AMF plants ranged from 27 % (100 % OSRF) to 79 % (30 % OSRF). Root acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were generally higher in AMF than non-AMF plants. When compared to NonAMF at 100 % OSRF, AMF plants at 30 % OSRF had higher or comparable ACP and ALP activity, higher leaf elemental P, N, Fe, Cu, and Zn, and a greater P _N (at the end of the experiment), leading to generally greater growth parameters with the lower fertility in AMF plants. We suggest that AMF increased nutrient acquisition from an organic fertilizer source by enhancing ACP and ALP activity thus facilitating P acquisition, increasing photosynthesis, and improving plant growth.