Phosphorus,arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and performance of the wetland plant Lythrum salicaria L. under inundated conditions

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in aquatic and semi-aquatic environments is poorly understood, although they may play a significant role in the establishment and maintenance of wetland plant communities. We tested the hypothesis that AM fungi have little effect on plant response to phosphorus (P) supply in inundated soils as evidenced by an absence of increased plant performance in inoculated (AM+) versus non-inoculated (AM-) Lythrum salicaria plants grown under a range of P availabilities (0-40 mg/l P). We also assessed the relationship between P supply and levels of AM colonization under inundated conditions. The presence of AM fungi had no detectable benefit for any measures of plant performance (total shoot height, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, total root length or total root surface area). AM+ plants displayed reduced shoot height at 10 mg/l P. Overall, shoot fresh to dry weight ratios were higher in AM+ plants although the biological significance of this was not determined. AM colonization levels were significantly reduced at P concentrations of 5 mg/l and higher. The results support the hypothesis that AM fungi have little effect on plant response to P supply in inundated conditions and suggest that the AM association can become uncoupled at relatively high levels of P supply.     

Phosphorus uptake by a community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in jarrah forest

Communities of indigenous arbusuclar mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are expected to alter phosphorus uptake and biomass productivity of plants according to characteristics of the life cycles of the fungi present and the way they interact with each other inside roots and with host plants. Differences in the relative abundance of AM fungi inside roots could influence P uptake if the fungi present differ in effectiveness at accessing P and transferring it to the plant. However, it is difficult to assess the contribution of AM fungi under field conditions. We investigated P uptake, from point sources of P placed 2, 4 and 6 cm from roots, by plants colonised by a community of AM fungi in jarrah forest soil. Roots were retained within a mesh bag to prevent them from growing towards the point source of P. The relative abundance of morphotypes of fungi inside roots and the P status of plants were assessed after 12 and 16 weeks. First, a bioassay was carried out in undisturbed forest soil cores using two host plants, a forest understorey plant Phyllanthus calycinus Labill and the annual pasture species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneaumL.), to assess the infectivity of the indigenous community of AM fungi. Roots of both bioassay host plants were colonised in similar proportions by morphotypes of AM fungi resembling Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora and fine endophytes. In this bioassay, there were positive correlations between the proportion of root length colonised and plant biomass and P uptake for P. calycinus, but not for subterranean clover. In the experiment assessing the capacity of P. calycinus to access P placed at increasing distances from the root, shoot P content and concentration in P. calycinus were greater when P was placed 2 cm compared with 4 and 6 cm from roots. The length of hyphae in the vicinity of the point source of P decreased with increasing distance from the plant. The extent to which the individual AM fungi were involved in P uptake is not known. The Glomus morphotype was dominant at both times of sampling.     

Aboveground resource allocation in response to root herbivory as affected by the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Aims

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associate with the majority of terrestrial plants, influencing their growth, nutrient uptake and defence chemistry. Consequently, AM fungi can significantly impact plant-herbivore interactions, yet surprisingly few studies have investigated how AM fungi affect plant responses to root herbivores. This study aimed to investigate how AM fungi affect plant tolerance mechanisms to belowground herbivory.

Methods

We examined how AM fungi affect plant (Saccharum spp. hybrid) growth, nutrient dynamics and secondary chemistry (phenolics) in response to attack from a root-feeding insect (Dermolepida albohirtum).

Results

Root herbivory reduced root mass by almost 27%. In response, plants augmented investment in aboveground biomass by 25%, as well as increasing carbon concentrations. The AM fungi increased aboveground biomass, phosphorus and carbon. Meanwhile, root herbivory increased foliar phenolics by 31% in mycorrhizal plants, and increased arbuscular colonisation of roots by 75% overall. AM fungi also decreased herbivore performance, potentially via increasing root silicon concentrations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that AM fungi may be able to augment plant tolerance to root herbivory via resource allocation aboveground and, at the same time, enhance plant root resistance by increasing root silicon. The ability of AM fungi to facilitate resource allocation aboveground in this way may be a more widespread strategy for plants to cope with belowground herbivory.

     

Mycorrhizal C costs and nutritional benefits in developing grapevines

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) C-costs in grapevines were investigated. Dormant vines rely on stored C for initial growth. Therefore AM colonisation costs would compete with plant growth for available C reserves. One-year-old grapevines, colonised with Glomus etunicatum (Becker and Gerdemann), were cultivated under glasshouse conditions. The C-economy and P utilisation of the symbiosis were sequentially analysed. AM colonisation, during the 0–67 day growth period, used more stem C relative to root C, which resulted in lower shoot growth. The decline in AM colonisation during the period of 67–119 days coincided with stem C replenishment and higher shoot growth. Construction costs of AM plants and root C allocation increased with root P uptake. The efficiency of P utilisation was lower in AM roots. The reliance of AM colonisation on stem C declined with a decrease in colonisation, providing more C for the refilling of stem carbohydrate reserves and shoot growth. Once established, the AM symbiosis increased P uptake at the expense of refilling of root C reserves. Although higher root C allocation increased plant construction costs, AM roots were more efficient at P utilisation.     

Relative importance of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices) and root hairs in plant drought tolerance

Both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and root hairs play important roles in plant uptake of water and mineral nutrients. To reveal the relative importance of mycorrhiza and root hairs in plant water relations, a bald root barley (brb) mutant and its wild type (wt) were grown with or without inoculation of the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices under well-watered or drought conditions, and plant physiological traits relevant to drought stress resistance were recorded. The experimental results indicated that the AM fungus could almost compensate for the absence of root hairs under drought-stressed conditions. Moreover, phosphorus (P) concentration, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency were significantly increased by R. intraradices but not by root hairs, except for shoot P concentration and photosynthetic rate under the drought condition. Root hairs even significantly decreased root P concentration under drought stresses. These results confirm that AM fungi can enhance plant drought tolerance by improvement of P uptake and plant water relations, which subsequently promote plant photosynthetic performance and growth, while root hairs presumably contribute to the improvement of plant growth and photosynthetic capacity through an increase in shoot P concentration.     

Growth, respiration and nutrient acquisition by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae and its host plant Plantago lanceolata in cooled soil

Although plant phosphate uptake is reduced by low soil temperature, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are responsible for P uptake in many plants. We investigated growth and carbon allocation of the AM fungus Glomus mosseae and a host plant (Plantago lanceolata) under reduced soil temperature. Plants were grown in compartmented microcosm units to determine the impact on both fungus and roots of a constant 2.7 °C reduction in soil temperature for 16 d. C allocation was measured using two (13)CO(2) pulse labels. Although root growth was reduced by cooling, AM colonization, growth and respiration of the extraradical mycelium (ERM) and allocation of assimilated (13)C to the ERM were all unaffected; the frequency of arbuscules increased. In contrast, root respiration and (13)C content and plant P and Zn content were all reduced by cooling. Cooling had less effect on N and K, and none on Ca and Mg content. The AM fungus G. mosseae was more able to sustain activity in cooled soil than were the roots of P. lanceolata, and so enhanced plant P content under a realistic degree of soil cooling that reduced plant growth. AM fungi may therefore be an effective means to promote plant nutrition under low soil temperatures.     

Functional aspects of root architecture and mycorrhizal inoculation with respect to nutrient uptake capacity

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation on root morphology and nitrogen uptake capacity of carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) under high and low nutrient conditions. The experimental design was a factorial arrangement of presence/absence of mycorrhizal fungus inoculation ( Glomus intraradices) and high/low nutrient status. Percent AM colonisation, nitrate and ammonium uptake capacity, and nitrogen and phosphorus contents were determined in 3-month-old seedlings. Grayscale and colour images were used to study root morphology and topology, and to assess the relation between root pigmentation and physiological activities. AM colonisation lead to a higher allocation of biomass to white and yellow parts of the root. Inorganic nitrogen uptake capacity per unit root length and nitrogen content were greatest in AM colonised plants grown under low nutrient conditions. A better match was found between plant nitrogen content and biomass accumulation, than between plant phosphorus content and biomass accumulation. It is suggested that the increase in nutrient uptake capacity of AM colonised roots is dependent both on changes in root morphology and physiological uptake potential. This study contributes to an understanding of the role of AM fungi and root morphology in plant nutrient uptake and shows that AM colonisation improves the nitrogen nutrition of plants, mainly when growing at low levels of nutrients.     

Assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity in the rhizosphere of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Viola calaminaria</Emphasis> and effect of these fungi on heavy metal uptake by clover

 The ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from a metal-tolerant plant (Viola calaminaria, violet) to colonise and reduce metal uptake by a non-tolerant plant (Trifolium subterraneum, subterranean clover) in comparison to a metal-tolerant AM fungus isolated from a non-tolerant plant was studied. AM spores from the violet rhizosphere and from violet roots were characterised by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the SSU rDNA, and sequencing. Subterranean clover was grown in pots containing a soil supplemented with Cd and Zn salts and inoculated either with a mixture of spores extracted from the violet rhizosphere or with spores of a Cd-tolerant Glomus mosseae P2 (BEG 69), or non-inoculated. The diversity of fungi, including AM fungi, colonising clover roots was assessed and analysed using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism. At least four different Glomus species were found in the violet rhizosphere. After 8 weeks in a growth chamber, colonisation of clover roots with spores from the violet rhizosphere increased Cd and Zn concentrations in clover roots without significantly affecting the concentrations of metals in the shoot and plant growth. G. mosseae P2 reduced plant growth and slightly increased the Cd concentration. Only one AM fungus (Glomus b) from the violet rhizosphere colonised clover roots, but other fungi were present. AM fungi from heavy metal-contaminated soils and associated with metal-tolerant plants may be effective in accumulating heavy metals in roots in a non-toxic form. Accepted: 7 July 2000     

Indigenous and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi contribute to plant growth in two agricultural soils from south-western Australia

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi occur in all agricultural soils but it is not easy to assess the contribution they make to plant growth under field conditions. Several approaches have been used to investigate this, including the comparison of plant growth in the presence or absence of naturally occurring AM fungi following soil fumigation or application of fungicides. However, treatments such as these may change soil characteristics other than factors directly involving AM fungi and lead to difficulties in identifying the reason for changes in plant growth. In a glasshouse experiment, we assessed the contribution of indigenous AM fungi to growth of subterranean clover in undisturbed cores of soil from two agricultural field sites (a cropped agricultural field at South Carrabin and a low input pasture at Westdale). We used the approach of estimating the benefit of AM fungi by comparing the curvature coefficients ( C) of the Mitscherlich equation for subterranean clover grown in untreated field soil, in field soil into which inoculum of Glomus invermaium was added and in soil fumigated with methyl bromide. It was only possible to estimate the benefit of mycorrhizas using this approach for one soil (Westdale) because it was the only soil for which a Mitscherlich response to the application of a range of P levels was obtained. The mycorrhizal benefit ( C of mycorrhizal vs. non-mycorrhizal plants or C of inoculated vs. uninoculated plants) of the indigenous fungi corresponded with a requirement for phosphate by plants that were colonised by AM fungi already present in the soil equivalent to half that required by non-mycorrhizal plants. This benefit was independent of the plant-available P in the soil. There was no additional benefit of inoculation on plant growth other than that due to increased P uptake. Indigenous AM fungi were present in both soils and colonised a high proportion of roots in both soils. There was a higher diversity of morphotypes of mycorrhizal fungi in roots of plants grown in the Westdale soil than in the South Carrabin soil that had a history of high phosphate fertilizer use in the field. Inoculation with G. invermaium did not increase the level of colonisation of roots by mycorrhizal fungi in either soil, but it replaced approximately 20% of the root length colonised by the indigenous fungi in Westdale soil at all levels of applied P. The proportion of colonised root length replaced by G. invermaium in South Carrabin soil varied with the level of application of P to the soil; it was higher at intermediate levels of recently added soil P.     

Contrasting impacts of defoliation on root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi of Medicago sativa

Individual plants typically interact with multiple mutualists and enemies simultaneously. Plant roots encounter both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi, while the leaves are exposed to herbivores. AMF are usually beneficial symbionts, while the functional role of DSE is largely unknown. Leaf herbivory may have a negative effect on root symbiotic fungi due to decreased carbon availability. However, evidence for this is ambiguous and no inoculation-based experiment on joint effects of herbivory on AM and DSE has been done to date. We investigated how artificial defoliation impacts root colonization by AM (Glomus intraradices) and DSE (Phialocephala fortinii) fungi and growth of Medicago sativa host in a factorial laboratory experiment. Defoliation affected fungi differentially, causing a decrease in arbuscular colonization and a slight increase in DSE-type colonization. However, the presence of one fungal species had no effect on colonization by the other or on plant growth. Defoliation reduced plant biomass, with this effect independent of the fungal treatments. Inoculation by either fungal species reduced root/shoot ratios, with this effect independent of the defoliation treatments. These results suggest AM colonization is limited by host carbon availability, while DSE may benefit from root dieback or exudation associated with defoliation. Reductions in root allocation associated with fungal inoculation combined with a lack of effect of fungi on plant biomass suggest DSE and AMF may be functional equivalent to the plant within this study. Combined, our results indicate different controls of colonization, but no apparent functional consequences between AM and DSE association in plant roots in this experimental setup.     

The aerenchymatous phellem of Lythrum salicaria (L.): a pathway for gas transport and its role in flood tolerance

While the importance of cortical aerenchyma in flood tolerance is well established, this pathway for gaseous exchange is often destroyed during secondary growth. For woody species, therefore, an additional pathway must develop for oxygen to reach submerged tissues. In this paper we examine the potential for the aerenchymatous phellem (cork) of Lythrum salicaria L. to provide a pathway for gas transport from shoots to roots and assess its importance in flood tolerance. Plants in which the continuity of the aerenchymatous phellem between shoots and roots was broken showed a significant reduction in oxygen levels in roots, but no difference in carbon dioxide levels compared with controls that retained an intact phellem. These plants also had a greater total shoot height and shoot dry weight, and an increase in shoot/root dry mass ratios compared with controls. Total dry weight was not significantly affected by this treatment. This study is the first to show that the aerenchymatous phellem can provide a pathway for gaseous exchange between roots and shoots and can influence plant morphology and patterns of resource allocation. This suggests that this tissue may play a significant role in the flood tolerance of a woody plant.     

Characterisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation in cluster roots of shape Hakea verrucosa F. Muell (Proteaceae), and its effect on growth and nutrient acquisition in ultramafic soil

Ultramafic soils at Bandalup Hill (Western Australia) are characterised by high concentrations of Ni and low levels of P. Amongst the plant species that can sustain such hostile conditions, Hakea verrucosa F. Muell from a non-mycorrhizal family (Proteaceae) would be expected to rely on cluster roots to access P. However, the acidification of ultramafic soils by cluster roots might increase the dissolution of soil Ni, and therefore its availability to plants. Symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi, on the other hand, might help to reduce the uptake of Ni by H. verrucosa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the mycorrhizal status of H. verrucosa, and assess any contribution from mycorrhizal fungi to its growth and nutrient status. Seedlings of H. verrucosa were first grown in undisturbed ultramafic soil cores from Bandalup Hill for 8 weeks to assess the presence of mycorrhizal fungi in their roots. In a second experiment, H. verrucosa seedlings were grown in the same ultramafic soil that was either steamed or left untreated. Seedlings were inoculated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal consortium from Bandalup Hill. Fungal hyphae, vesicles, as well as intracellular arbuscules and hyphal coils were observed in the cluster roots of H. verrucosa in both experiments. In the first experiment, 57% of the root length was colonized by AM fungi. Seedlings had high (between 1.4 and 1.9) shoot to root ratios and their roots had very few root hairs, despite growing in P-deficient soil. Steaming of the ultramafic soil increased the growth of seedlings and their nutrient uptake. Inoculation with AM fungi reduced the seedling growth in steamed ultramafic soil; however, it increased their shoot P and K concentration and also the shoot K content. The shoot Ni concentration of seedlings was not affected by the presence of AM fungi.     

植物中丛枝菌根形成的信号途径研究进展

丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM)共生是丛枝菌根真菌与大多数陆地植物的根系之间形成的一种互利共生关系。植物给菌根真菌提供碳水化合物; 作为回报, 菌根真菌能够增强植物对矿质营养元素(尤其是磷)的吸收。菌根的形成过程是一系列信号交换和转导的结果, 具有严格并且一致的顺序。本文以植物中菌根形成的信号途径为主线, 对菌根真菌的形成过程和信号转导途径及其方式进行了分析和讨论。高等植物中菌根形成的信号途径与豆科植物的结瘤信号途径部分共享, 并且与钙离子信号途径相关, 但前者更为广泛。尽管该途径中很多过程目前还不十分清楚, 但是相信在不久的将来就可以揭开菌根形成过程中的众多谜团。     

Aquatic adventitious roots of the wetland plant Meionectes brownii can photosynthesize: implications for root function during flooding

? Many wetland plants produce aquatic adventitious roots from submerged stems. Aquatic roots can form chloroplasts, potentially producing endogenous carbon and oxygen. Here, aquatic root photosynthesis was evaluated in the wetland plant Meionectes brownii, which grows extensive stem-borne aquatic roots during submergence. ? Underwater photosynthetic light and CO(2) response curves were determined for aquatic-adapted leaves, stems and aquatic roots of M. brownii. Oxygen microelectrode and (14)CO(2)-uptake experiments determined shoot inputs of O(2) and photosynthate into aquatic roots. ? Aquatic adventitious roots contain a complete photosynthetic pathway. Underwater photosynthetic rates are similar to those of stems, with a maximum net photosynthetic rate (P(max)) of 0.38 μmol O(2) m(-2) s(-1); however, this is c. 30-fold lower than that of aquatic-adapted leaves. Under saturating light with 300 mmol m(-3) dissolved CO(2), aquatic roots fix carbon at 0.016 μmol CO(2) g(-1) DM s(-1). Illuminated aquatic roots do not rely on exogenous inputs of O(2). ? The photosynthetic ability of aquatic roots presumably offers an advantage to submerged M. brownii as aquatic roots, unlike sediment roots, need little O(2) and carbohydrate inputs from the shoot when illuminated.     

Root allocation and foraging precision in heterogeneous soils

Root growth patterns respond to small-scale resource heterogeneity and the presence of roots of neighboring plants, but how a plant integrates its responses to these cues is not well understood. In the presence of neighbors, plants may shift allocation to roots as a consequence of plant size and root:shoot allometry, as a response to resource depletion by neighbors, or through a direct response to neighbor presence. The same response pathways also have the potential to alter proliferation in resource-rich patches in soil.Four species of grassland plants were grown in the greenhouse as single plants, monocultures, and mixtures. Root length allocation as a function of shoot mass was examined for background soil and fertilized patches. Plants grown with same-species neighbors followed the same allometric trajectory as single plants for root length in background soil, so any change in root allocation was due only to reduced plant size. Root proliferation in patches declined with neighbors, consistent with a response to resource depletion. Mixtures overproduced roots in both background soil and in patches, relative to plants of the same size in monocultures.     

植物中丛枝菌根形成的信号途径研究进展

丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)共生是丛枝菌根真菌与大多数陆地植物的根系之间形成的一种互利共生关系。植物给菌根真菌提供碳水化合物;作为回报,菌根真菌能够增强植物对矿质营养元素(尤其是磷)的吸收。菌根的形成过程是一系列信号交换和转导的结果,具有严格并且一致的顺序。本文以植物中菌根形成的信号途径为主线,对菌根真菌的形成过程和信号转导途径及其方式进行了分析和讨论。高等植物中菌根形成的信号途径与豆科植物的结瘤信号途径部分共享,并且与钙离子信号途径相关,但前者更为广泛。尽管该途径中很多过程目前还不十分清楚,但是相信在不久的将来就可以揭开菌根形成过程中的众多谜团。     

Adventitious root production and plastic resource allocation to biomass determine burial tolerance in woody plants from central Canadian coastal dunes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Burial is a recurrent stress imposed upon plants of coastal dunes. Woody plants are buried on open coastal dunes and in forested areas behind active blowouts; however, little is known about the burial responses and adaptive traits of these species. The objectives of this study were: (a) to determine the growth and morphological responses to burial in sand of seven woody plant species native to central Canadian coastal dunes; and (b) to identify traits that determine burial tolerance in these species. METHODS: Field experiments were conducted to determine the responses of each species to burial. Saplings were exposed to burial treatments of 0, 10, 25, 50 and 75 % of their height. Burial responses were evaluated based on regressions of total biomass, height, adventitious root production and percentage allocation to shoot, root and adventitious root biomass on percentage burial. KEY RESULTS: Pinus strobus and Picea glauca lacked burial tolerance. In response to the burial gradient, these species showed a strong linear decline in total biomass, minimal adventitious root production that peaked at moderate levels (25-50 % burial) and no change in allocation to shoots vs. roots. The tolerant species Juniperus virginiana, Thuja occidentalis and Picea mariana showed a quadratic response to burial, with little change in biomass up to 50 % burial, but a large decline at 75 %. These species produced abundant adventitious roots up to 50 % burial, but did not alter allocation patterns over the range of burial levels. Populus balsamifera and Salix cordata were stimulated by burial. These species showed linear increases in biomass with increasing burial, produced copious adventitious roots across the gradient and showed a clear shift in allocation to vertical shoot growth and adventitious root production at the expense of the original roots under high burial conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Adventitious root production and plastic resource allocation to biomass are adaptive traits of coastal dune woody plants in central Canada, and provide a basis for assessing burial tolerance in woody plants on coastal dunes throughout the world.     

Sex-Related Responses of Populus cathayana Shoots and Roots to AM Fungi and Drought Stress

We investigated the impact of drought and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the morphological structure and physiological function of shoots and roots of male and female seedlings of the dioecious plant Populus cathayana Rehder. Pot-grown seedlings were subjected to well watered or water-limiting conditions (drought) and were grown in soil that was either inoculated or not inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices. No significant differences were found in the infection rates between the two sexes. Drought decreased root and shoot growth, biomass and root morphological characteristics, whereas superoxide radical (O₂–) and hydrogen peroxide content, peroxidase (POD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and proline content were significantly enhanced in both sexes. Male plants that formed an AM fungal symbiosis showed a significant increase in shoot and root morphological growth, increased proline content of leaves and roots, and increased POD activity in roots under both watering regimes; however, MDA concentration in the roots decreased. By contrast, AM fungi either had no effect or a slight negative effect on the shoot and root growth of female plants, with lower root biomass, total biomass and root/shoot ration under drought. In females, MDA concentration increased in leaves and roots under both watering regimes, and the proline content and POD activity of roots increased under drought conditions; however, POD activity significantly decreased under well-watered conditions. These findings suggest that AM fungi enhanced the tolerance of male plants to drought by improving shoot and root growth, biomass and the antioxidant system. Further investigation is needed to unravel the complex effects of AM fungi on the growth and antioxidant system of female plants.     

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth following herbivory: A search for pattern

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can facilitate nutrient uptake and increase host plant growth but also place constraints on the host's carbon budget. When plants are stressed by herbivory the net effect of the symbiosis may be altered tolerance. Individual experiments manipulating AM fungi and herbivory have demonstrated increased, decreased, and no effect on tolerance but patterns with respect to plant, herbivore, or fungus characteristics have not emerged. Meta-analysis of published results from factorial experiments was used to describe the size of the effects of herbivory and of AM fungi on host growth when factors such as cause of damage, inoculum, and host characteristics are considered, and to determine whether AM fungi alter the effects of herbivory. Also, the correlation between the effect of AM fungi on tolerance and resistance was tested with data from studies that examined insect performance. Herbivory strongly and consistently reduced shoot and root growth, especially in perennial plants and crops. AM fungi increased shoot growth of perennials but not annuals, and when insects caused damage but not when artificial defoliation was applied. Root growth was consistently greater with AM fungi. The interaction of AM fungi and herbivory, which indicates whether AM fungi alter the effects of herbivory, was variable and never significant overall but homogeneity tests indicated underlying structure. In experiments that used single species inoculum, Glomus intraradices increased, whereas Glomus mosseae reduced, effects of herbivory on shoot growth. Multispecies inocula magnified effects of herbivory on root growth whereas single species inocula ameliorated effects. The impact of AM fungi on resistance to herbivory was positively correlated with the impact on tolerance; however AM fungi reduced both tolerance and resistance in many cases. Review of these results with respect to the types of systems studied suggests directions for future investigation.     

AM fungi root colonization increases the production of essential isoprenoids vs. nonessential isoprenoids especially under drought stress conditions or after jasmonic acid application

Previous studies have shown that root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi enhances plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors and finally plant growth. However, little is known about the effect of AM on isoprenoid foliar and root content. In this study we tested whether the AM symbiosis affects carbon resource allocation to different classes of isoprenoids such as the volatile nonessential isoprenoids (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) and the non-volatile essential isoprenoids (abscisic acid, chlorophylls and carotenoids). By subjecting the plants to stressors such as drought and to exogenous application of JA, we wanted to test their interaction with AM symbiosis in conditions where isoprenoids usually play a role in resistance to stress and in plant defence. Root colonization by AM fungi favoured the leaf production of essential isoprenoids rather than nonessential ones, especially under drought stress conditions or after JA application. The increased carbon demand brought on by AM fungi might thus influence not only the amount of carbon allocated to isoprenoids, but also the carbon partitioning between the different classes of isoprenoids, thus explaining the not previously shown decrease of root volatile isoprenoids in AM plants. We propose that since AM fungi are a nutrient source for the plant, other carbon sinks normally necessary to increase nutrient uptake can be avoided and therefore the plant can devote more resources to synthesize essential isoprenoids for plant growth.