Effects of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and other soil microorganisms on growth,mineral nutrient acquisition and root exudation of soil-grown maize plants

Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Alize) plants were grown in a calcareous soil in pots divided by 30-m nylon nets into three compartments, the central one for root growth and the outer ones for hyphal growth. Sterle soil was inoculated with either (1) rhizosphere microorganisms other than vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi, (2) rhizosphere microorganisms together with a VAM fungus [Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappel], or (3) with a gamma-irradiated inoculum as control. Plants were grown under controlled-climate conditions and harvested after 3 or 6 weeks. VAM plants had higher shootroot ratios than non-VAM plants. After 6 weeks, the concentrations of P, Zn and Cu in roots and shoots had significantly increased with VAM colonization, whereas Mn concentrations had significantly decreased. Root exudates were collected on agar sheets placed on the interface between root and hyphal compartments. Six-week-old VAM and non-VAM plants had similar root exudate compositions of 72–73% reducing sugars, 17–18% phenolics, 7% organic acids and 3% amino acids. In another experiment in which root exudates were collected on agar sheets with or without antibiotics, the amounts of amino acids and carbohydrates recovered were similar in VAM and non-VAM plants. However, threeto sixfold higher amounts of carbohydrates, amino acids and phenolics were recovered when antibiotics were added to the agar sheets. Thus, the high microbial activity in the rhizosphere and on the rhizoplane limits the exudates recovered from roots.     

Free amino acids in the seed and root exudates in relation to the nitrogen requirements of rhizosphere soil Fusaria

Summary The amounts of amino acids in seed exudates were generally higher than in root exudates of the same plant. The spectra and relative abundance of amino acids in both plants were similar but they were generally more abundant in cowpea exudates than in sorghum. Glutamic acid and alanine were the most abundant amino acids in the seed and root exudates of both plants. The proportions of the amino acids in the seed exudates were comparable to that stored in the seeds. Many of the major amino acids identified in the exudates were also found to support thein vitro growth ofFusarium spp. isolated from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane. This suggests that the amino acids exuded might contribute signficantly to Fusaria nutrition and its consequent predominance around the root. The significance of this pathogenesis is also discussed.     

The effect of aluminium on phosphate uptake by three isolated ectomycorrhizal fungi

Three wheat cultivars with different tolerances against free aluminium were grown monoxenically in association with Azospirillum brasilense. In situ nitrogen fixation, measured with the acetylene reduction assay, was higher by the aluminium-tolerant cultivars than by the sensitive cultivar. The transfer of fixed nitrogen to the host plant, determined by the ¹⁵N dilution technique, was also significantly higher in the aluminium-resistant wheat plants. The total accumulation of fixed nitrogen in the host plants due to an A. brasilense inoculation varied from approximately 13% to 17% of the total nitrogen in the root and 2.9% to 3.9% of the nitrogen in the shoot.The quantity and quality of exudates released in liquid nutrient solution were analysed separately for two of the wheat cultivars, one aluminium-tolerant and one aluminium-sensitive. After 29 days of growth the aluminium-tolerant plants exudated significantly higher total amounts of carbon than aluminium-sensitive plants. No differences between the two cultivars existed in the carbon exudation rate per gram dry root.Much higher concentrations of low molecular dicarboxylic acids i.e. succinic, malic and oxalic acid, were found in the exudates of aluminium-tolerant plants. Dicarboxylic acids are potential chelating compounds for positively charged metals such as aluminium and they may play an important role in protecting the plant against aluminium incorporation. They are also very suitable substrates for Azospirillum spp. It is therefore suggested that these factors may be causing the higher associative nitrogen fixation rates which was found in the aluminium-tolerant wheat cultivars.     

盐碱胁迫下湖南稷子苗期根系分泌物代谢组学

盐碱胁迫下植物根系分泌物包含丰富生化信息并具有重要生态作用。为了探讨耐盐碱牧草湖南稷子(Echinochloa frumentacea) 在盐碱胁迫下根系分泌物组成,揭示其在盐碱胁迫下的生理及生态作用,以湖南稷子为试验对象,在人工气候室开展水培试验,并在苗期分别进行中性盐(NaCl+Na₂SO₄ 100 mmol/L)、碱性盐(NaCl+NaHCO₃ 100 mmol/L)和碱(Na₂CO₃+NaHCO₃ 50 mmol/L)处理。在处理3 d后,利用液质联用仪(LC-MS/MS)检测对照组和处理组根系分泌物的化合物成分。结果表明,盐碱胁迫下湖南稷子根系分泌物共有334种化合物。依据正交偏最小二乘法判别分析(OPLS、|DA),重要值(VIP)得分及t检验的P值, 发现对照比SaSo100(碱性盐处理 100 mmol/L),对照比Soda50(碱处理50 mmol/L)和对照比Salt100(中性盐处理100 mmol/L)分别有22、15和21个差异根系分泌物。其中碱性盐和碱处理下根系分泌物组成相近,包括脂质、酚酸,生物碱,苯酞类,氨基糖,萜类,醌类,氨基酸及其衍生物;中性盐处理下有脂质、酚酸,生物碱,苯酞类,萜类。京都基因与基因组百科全书注释及富集发现,盐碱胁迫下根系分泌物不仅含有三羧酸循环代谢产生的碳水化合物、核苷酸,氨基酸,脂肪酸,类脂和维生素等物质,而且与瓦博格效应、膜运输,信号传导以及遗传信息处理等途径有关。研究表明,湖南稷子通过根系分泌物渗出,调节自身代谢物浓度,加强或改变碳同化、呼吸作用、信号传导等提高对盐碱胁迫的适应性。     

Effects of Shading Soybean Plants on N2O Emission from Soil

The effect of photosynthesis on N₂O emission from soil was investigated by shading soybean (Gycline max. L) plant at flowering, pod-setting and grain-filling stages. The results showed that by stopping photosynthesis through shading the plants stimulated N₂O emission significantly at flowering stage and pod-setting stage, and suppressed N₂O emission dramatically at grain-filling stage. At flowering stage, soybean species seem to rely mainly on fertilizer N and shaded plants decreased the N uptake. Interaction between the relative increase in available N for N₂O production by shading and the presence of root exudates promoted N transformation (nitrification/denitrification) and N₂O emission. At pod-setting stage, the available soil nitrogen seems to be a critical limiting factor and without substantial release of symbiotically fixed N through plant roots, resulted in a weak effect of shading on N₂O emission. At grain-filling stage, available N for N₂O production was derived from symbiotically fixed N and was greatly affected by photosynthesis. These results indicated that the effect of soybean growth on N₂O emission from soil varies with plant growth stages as available N for N₂O production is mainly from fertilizer N and organic mineralization during the early growth of soybean plants, while N₂O emission is controlled by the quantity and perhaps also the quality of root exudates, which is closely related with plant photosynthesis in the late season of soybean growth.     

Manganese reduction in the rhizosphere of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal maize

The influence of rhizosphere microorganisms and vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhiza on manganese (Mn) uptake in maize (Zea mays L. cv. Tau) plants was studied in pot experiments under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown for 7 weeks in sterilized calcareous soil in pots having separate compartments for growth of roots and of VA mycorrhizal fungal hyphae. The soil was left either uninoculated (control) or prior to planting was inoculated with rhizosphere microorganisms only (MO-VA) or with rhizosphere microorganisms together with a VA mycorrhizal fungus [Glomus mosseae (Nicol and Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe] (MO+VA). Mycorrhiza treatment did not affect shoot dry weight, but root dry weight was slightly inhibited in the MO+VA and MO-VA treatments compared with the uninoculated control. Concentrations of Mn in shoots decreased in the order MO-VA > MO+VA > control. In the rhizosphere soil, the total microbial population was higher in mycorrhizal (MO+VA) than nonmycorrhizal (MO-VA) treatments, but the proportion of Mn-reducing microbial populations was fivefold higher in the nonmycorrhizal treatment, suggesting substantial qualitative changes in rhizosphere microbial populations upon root infection with the mycorrhizal fungi. The most important microbial group taking part in the reduction of Mn was fluorescent Pseudomonas. Mycorrhizal treatment decreased not only the number of Mn reducers but also the release of Mn-solubilizing root exudates, which were collected by percolation from maize plants cultivated in plastic tubes filled with gravel quartz sand. Compared with mycorrhizal plants, the root exudates of nonmycorrhizal plants had two fold higher capacity for reduction of Mn. Therefore, changes in both rhizosphere microbial population and root exudation are probably responsible for the lower acquisition of Mn in mycorrhizal plants.     

Effect of Foliar Application of Chitin and Chitosan Oligosaccharides on Photosynthesis of Maize and Soybean

On the first day after foliar application, chitosan pentamer (CH5) and chitin pentamer (CHIT5) decreased net photosynthetic rate (P _N) of soybean and maize, however, on subsequent days there was an increase in P _N in some treatments. CH5 caused an increase in maize P _N on day 3 at 10^–5 and 10^–7 M; the increases were 18 and 10 % over the control plants. This increase was correlated with increases in stomatal conductance (g _s) and transpiration rate (E), while the intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) was not different from the control plants. P _N of soybean plants did not differ from the control plants except for treatment CH5 (10^–7 M) which caused an 8 % increase on day 2, along with increased g _s, E, and C _i. On days 5 and 6 the CHIT5 treatment caused a 6–8 % increase in P _N of maize, which was accompanied by increases in g _s, E, and C _i. However, there was no such increase for soybean plants treated with CHIT5. In general, foliar application of high molecular mass chitin (CHH) resulted in decreased P _N, particularly for 0.010 % treated plants, both in maize and soybean. Foliar applications of chitosan and chitin oligomers did not affect (p > 0.05) maize or soybean height, root length, leaf area, shoot or root or total dry mass.     

Root exudates: a pathway for short-term N transfer from clover and ryegrass

The short-term transfer of nitrogen (N) from legumes to grasses was investigated in two laboratory studies. One study was done in pots where the roots of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were allowed to co-exist, and a second study was performed using a micro-lysimeter system designed to maintain nutrient flow from the clover to the grass, whilst removing direct contact between the root systems. The ¹⁵N-dilution technique was used to quantify the transfer of N between species. Levels of ammonia and amino acids were measured in root exudates. The amounts of N transferred were in the same order of magnitude in both the pot and micro-lysimeter experiments. In the micro-lysimeter experiment, 0.076 mg of N were transferred per plant from clover to ryegrass during the course of the experiment. Ammonium exudation was much higher than amino acid exudation. The most abundant amino acids in both clover and ryegrass root exudates were serine and glycine. However, there was no correlation between the free amino acid profile of root extracts and exudates for both plant species: Asparagine was the major amino acid in clover roots, while glutamine, glutamate and aspartate were the major amino acids in ryegrass roots. Comparison of exudates obtained from plants grown in non-sterile or axenic conditions provides evidence of plant origin of ammonium, serine and glycine.     

Strain-specific salt tolerance and chemotaxis ofAzospirillum brasilense and their associative N-fixation with finger millet in saline calcareous soil

Three salt-tolerantAzospirillum brasilense strains were isolated from the roots of finger millet grown in saline calcareous soil and characterized. The effect of various salts on growth and N₂ase activity of these strains was tested and strain STR1 was found more tolerant at higher concentrations of Cl^-, SO₄ ² and HCO₃ ^-. Bicarbonate was found to be the most toxic. The content and concentrations of root exudates of finger millet genotypes were different and chemotaxis to sugars, amino acids, organic acids and root exudates was strain specific. Under salt stress, significant interactions between strains and genotypes of finger millet resulted in different responses of N₂ase activity, endo- and exorhizospheric population, dry weight of root, shoot and grain yield.     

Impact of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced stem tumors on NO3− uptake in Ricinus communis

Developing tumors induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, strain C58, on stems of Ricinus communis L. var. gibsonii cv. Carmencita were shown to be strong metabolic sinks for sucrose and amino acids, thus causing higher nutrient demand in the host plant. However, NO₃ ^– uptake and, to a lesser extent, also H₂PO₄ ^– uptake were strongly inhibited. Correspondingly, NO₃ ^– concentration was lower in tumorised than in the control plants. NO₃ ^–reductase activity was the same in both plant types, but it was completely suppressed in the tumors. The electrical membrane potential difference of root cells was unaffected in tumorised plants when soil-grown, but significantly lowered when grown hydroponically. Consistent with the low NO₃ ^– uptake rate, NO₃ ^–-dependent membrane depolarisation at the onset of NO₃ ^–/2H⁺-cotransport was nearly zero. In the phloem sap, sucrose and amino acid concentrations were considerably lower in tumorised than in control plants, and lower below than above the tumor. The qualitative pattern of amino acids of the phloem sap of stems was almost the same in tumorised and control plants. It is concluded that neither the overall amino acid concentration nor special amino acids nor ammonium in the transport phloem suppress NO₃ ^– uptake in the roots. Aminocyclopropane-carboxylate, the precursor of ethylene, which is produced in the tumors in high amounts, was low in the stems and the same in both plant types. Thus, ACC and ethylene were ruled out as directly interfering with nutrient uptake in the roots. Root morphology was strongly affected during tumor development. Root fresh weight decreased to 50% of the controls and lateral root development was almost completely prevented. This suggests that the high tumor ethylene production, together with an increasing concentration of phenolic compounds, severely inhibits the basipetal auxin flow to the roots. Auxin accumulation and retention was confirmed by specifically enhanced expression of the auxin-responsive promoter of the soybean gene GH3:GUS in tumors induced in transgenic Trifolium repens L. Hence, root development is poorer and anion uptake inhibited in tumorised plants. This may be aggravated by abscisic acid accumulation in the tumor and its basipetal export into the roots. Moreover, sucrose depletion of the sieve tubes leads to energy shortage at the root level for maintaining energy-dependent anion uptake.     

Effect of root exudates on the spore germiantion of rhizosphere and rhizoplane mycoflora of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars

Summary From root exudates of three cultivars of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) 12 amino acids and 7 sugars were detected. Methionine, d-1- phenylalanine, citrulline and d-xylose were detected only from the root exudates of resdistant cultivars. The root exudates of resistant variety inhibited spore germination of the pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.capsici), but that of susceptible variety enhanced spore germiantion of the same. Spore germiantion of antagonistic fungi (Trichderma viride andAspergillus sydowi) was also influenced by the root exudates of resistant and susceptible varieties, but the influence was different.Spore germiantion of a number of rhizosphere fungi was studied and in general root exudate of susceptible cultivar enhanced spore germiantion of majority of fungi, but spore germination of antagonistic fungi against the pathogen was inhibited. However, root exudate of resistant cultivar stimulated spore germination of antagonistic fungi.     

Attachment,colonization and proliferation ofAzospirillum brasilense andEnterobacter spp. on root surface of grasses

Root colonization studies, employing immunofluorescence and using locally isolated strains, showed thatEnterbacter sp. QH7 andEnterobacter agglomerans AX12 attached more readily to the roots of most plants compared withAzospirillum brasilense JM82. Heat treatment of either root or inoculum significantly decreased the adsorption of bacteria to the root surface. Kallar grass and rice root exudates sustained the growth ofA. brasilense JM82,Enterobacter sp. QH7 andE. agglomerans AX12 in Hoagland and Fahraeus medium. All the strains colonized kallar grass and rice roots in an axenic culture system. However, in studies involving mixed cultures,A. brasilense JM82 was inhibited byEnterobacter sp. QH7 in kallar grass rhizosphere and the simultaneous presence ofEnterobacter sp. QH7 andE. agglomerans AX12 suppressed the growth ofA. brasilense JM82 in rice rhizosphere. The bacterial colonization pattern changed from dispersed to aggregated within 3 days of inoculation. The colonization sites corresponded mainly to the areas where root mucigel was present. The area around the point of emergence of lateral roots usually showed maximum colonization.     

Role of the modification in root exudation induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on the intraradical growth of Phytophthora nicotianae in tomato

We studied the role of modification in root exudation induced by colonization with Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae in the growth of Phytophthora nicotianae in tomato roots. Plants were grown in a compartmentalized plant growth system and were either inoculated with the AM fungi or received exudates from mycorrhizal plants, with the corresponding controls. Three weeks after planting, the plants were inoculated or not with P. nicotianae growing from an adjacent compartment. At harvest, P. nicotianae biomass was significantly reduced in roots colonized with G. intraradices or G. mosseae in comparison to non-colonized roots. Conversely, pathogen biomass was similar in non-colonized roots supplied with exudates collected from mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal roots, or with water. We cannot rule out that a mycorrhiza-mediated modification in root exudation may take place, but our results did not support that a change in pathogen chemotactic responses to host root exudates may be involved in the inhibition of P. nicotianae.     

Rhizosphere bacteria antagonistic to soybean cyst (Heterodera glycines) and root-knot (Meloidogyne incognita) nematodes: Identification by fatty acid analysis and frequency of biological control activity

Rhizosphere bacteria were isolated from roots of young and mature plants with known antagonism to phytopathogenic nematodes, including velvet bean (Mucuna deeringiana), castor bean (Ricinus communis), sword bean (Cannavalia ensiformis), and Abruzzi rye (Secale cereale). Isolates from antagonistic plants were compared to soybean isolates for the frequency of antagonism to the root-knot (Meloidogyne incognita) and soybean cyst (Heterodera schachtii) nematodes in a disease assay with soybean. Bacterial isolates were identified using fatty acid analysis, and isolates which exhibited a significant reduction in incidence of soybean damage from both nematodes were characterized physiologically. The bacterial taxa associated with antagonistic plants were markedly different from soybean bacteria. Isolates from soybean were predominantly Bacillus spp., while those from antagonistic plants included more coryneform and Gram-negative genera. Pseudomonas cepacia and Pseudomonas gladioli were predominant among Gram-negative bacteria on antagonistic plants but were not isolated from soybean. Four to six times the number of bacteria from antagonistic plants, compared to soybean, significantly reduced disease incidence of both nematodes. No single pattern of physiological reactions was common among all these bacteria, suggesting that multiple mechanisms accounted for the observed biological control. The results suggest that rhizospheres of antagonistic plants may be useful sources of potential biological control agents for phytopathogenic nematodes.     

Development of a model system to assess the impact of genetically modified corn and aubergine plants on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

We developed an experimental model system to monitor the impact of generically modified (GM) plants on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, a group of non-target soil microorganisms, fundamental for soil fertility and plant nutrition. The system allowed us to study the effects of root exudates of both commercial Bt corn and aubergine plants expressing Dm-AMP1 defensin on different stages of the life cycle of the AM fungal species G. mosseae. Root exudates of Bt 176 corn significantly reduced pre-symbiotic hyphal growth, compared to Bt 11 and non-transgenic plants. No differences were found in mycelial growth in the presence of Dm-AMP1 and control plant root exudates. Differential hyphal morphogenesis occurred irrespective of the plant line, suggesting that both exuded Bt toxin and defensin do not interfere with fungal host recognition mechanisms. Bt 176 affected the regular development of appressoria, 36% of which failed to produce viable infection pegs. Our experimental model system represents an easy assay for testing the impact of GM plants on non-target soil-borne AM fungi.     

根结线虫对文冠果苗木根系结构与生长及矿质养分分布特性的影响北大核心CSCD

以根结线虫侵染的文冠果一年生苗木为材料,观察分析苗木根系的形态和显微结构,植株生长发育以及主要矿质养分在苗木中的分布特性,并分析不同矿质元素与线虫侵染的关联关系,以揭示根结线虫对文冠果苗木生长发育的影响机制。结果表明:(1)受根结线虫侵染的文冠果苗木根系形成根结,依据根结发生程度分为0(对照,正常植株)、2、3、4级;与对照相比,具有根结的文冠果苗木根系解剖结构特征主要表现为皮层相对较厚,木质部排列扭曲,导管较少,射线数目较少且分布不均匀;韧皮细胞内含物明显较多;多个巨细胞及细胞空腔主要存在于韧皮部。(2)具根结的苗木株高和地径较对照均增加,且株高增幅达显著水平(P<0.05)。(3)具根结苗木根、茎、叶部位的N、P含量均较对照下降,根部降幅达显著水平(P<0.05),其中具2~4级根结的根部N含量分别较对照显著下降7.8%、16.0%和29.5%,P含量分别显著下降15.6%、7.1%和43.3%;根部Fe含量、Zn含量显著上升,2~4级根结根系中Fe含量较对照分别增加1.56倍、0.81倍和3倍,Zn含量分别增加1.11倍、1.56倍和1.78倍;具3和4级根结的苗木根系中K含量较对照显著增加(P<0.05),具2和4级根结的苗木叶片中K含量较对照分别显著下降61.5%和47.0%。(4)苗木根部、茎部N元素含量对于根结线虫侵染的响应最明显,且其含量随侵染程度的增大而降低,叶部Mg元素含量与根结线虫侵染率、K元素含量与整株苗木生物量均呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05)。该研究为根结线虫对文冠果苗木养分吸收利用及运转的影响提供了一定的理论依据。     

Utility of Trigonelline as a Biochemical Market for Interspecific Competition between Soybean and the Weed Common Waterhemp

Interspecific competition between four soybean cultivars (PI471938, Stressland, Essex and Forrest) and the weed, common waterhemp was investigated under increasing weed densities (i.e. 0, 1, 4 and 16 plants per pot). Soybean height and leaflet number were measured over a 45-d period and used to calculate relative growth rates (RGR). Trigonelline (TRG) concentration was determined within the V1 leaf of 45-d-old soybean plants. Soybean leaflet number (P[lt ]0.05), soybean height (P[lt ]0.05) and soybean RGR_h (expressed in terms of height) differed significantly (P[lt ]0.05) according to waterhemp density. At each waterhemp density Stressland matured at a significantly faster rate whereas the maturation rate of Essex decreased in the presence of waterhemp. Final TRG concentrations were affected by the interaction between soybean cultivar and waterhemp density. Under no competition, TRG concentration was significantly lower in Forrest relative to PI471938, Stressland and Essex. TRG concentrations in Essex declined in higher waterhemp densities.     

Protein synthesis inPinus resinosa and the ectomycorrhizal fungusPaxillus involutus prior to ectomycorrhiza formation

Summary Seedlings of Pinus resinosa Ait. in test tubes were inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus Fr. or with discs of sterile modified Melin-Norkrans (MMN) medium. Paxillus involutus was also inoculated to control tubes in the absence of Pinus resinosa seedlings. In vivo labelling of proteins in Pinus resinosa roots and in Paxillus involutus mycelium was carried out using ³⁵S l-methionine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 days after inoculation. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE) of the protein extracts from the four treatments and autoradiography demonstrated that the presence of root exudates altered protein synthesis in Paxillus involutus as three major bands disappeared when Paxillus involutus was exposed to root exudates. Protein synthesis in Pinus resinosa was also altered when Paxillus involutus was introduced into the tubes, since at least two bands were more intense when seedlings were inoculated with Paxillus involutus, as compared to control roots. No difference was observed in the growth and the label incorporation of Paxillus involutus growing with or without root exudates. Ectomycorrhizal roots were not formed during this experiment. Gene regulation in this ectomycorrhizal association occurs, therefore, prior to the formation of ectomycorrhizal roots.     

Increased solar UV-B radiation may reduce infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in dune grassland plants: evidence from five years of field exposure

An area of coastal dune grassland, dominated by the gramineous species Calamagrostis epigeios and Carex arenaria, was exposed to enhanced levels of UV-B radiation during a five year period. These species showed reduced AM-fungal infection percentages in their roots. In C. epigeios AM infection was reduced by 18%, C. arenaria showed a reduction by 20%. The major effect of enhanced UV-B on AM associations was a reduction of the number of arbuscules. This indicates a reduction in the exchange of nutrients between the symbionts. Since the effect of UV-B on AM associations may result from altered flavonoid levels in the root exudates of the host plants, flavonoid levels in the roots were investigated. No detectable flavonoid concentrations were found in the roots of C. epigeios and C. arenaria. Less effective AM associations can have pronounced negative effects on biodiversity and nutrient dynamics of the dune grassland ecosystem. The possible mechanisms causing these indirect effects of elevated UV-B on below ground AM associations are discussed. We conclude that UV-B induced changes in plant hormone levels are more likely to be the mechanism reducing AMF infection than UV-B induced alterations in flavonoid concentrations in the root exudates of the host plant.     

Macronutrient concentrations of soybean infected with soybean cyst nematode

Soybean cultivars (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) infected with soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycinesIchinohe) often show symptoms similar to K deficiency. The objectives of this experiment were to determine if SCN infection affected macronutrient concentrations in soybean seedling vegetative tissues, determine whether increased K fertility can overcome these possible effects, and to determine if these possible effects are localized at the site of infection or expressed systemically throughout the root system. Soybean plants were grown with root systems split into two halves. This allowed differential K (0.2, 2.4 and 6.0 mM K nutrient solutions) and SCN (0 and 15 000 eggs/plant) treatments to be applied to opposite root-halves of the same plant. Thirty days after plants were inoculated with SCN, macronutrient concentrations of shoot and root tissues were determined. Potassium concentration in leaf blades was not affected; but K concentrations in leaf-petiole and stem tissues were increased with SCN infection. Roots infected with SCN contained lower K concentrations than uninfected roots, but only for the 2.4 mM K treatment. Thus, at the medium level of K fertility, SCN reduced K concentration in soybean roots, and increasing K fertility to the high level overcame the effect. Because K concentrations in the shoot tissues were not reduced by SCN infection, above ground portions of the plant may be able to overcome limitations that occur in roots during the first 30 days of infection. Increasing K fertility level in soybean fields may not benefit vegetative growth of soybean infected with SCN.