Morpho‐anatomical and molecular characterization of the mycorrhizas of European Polygala species

The mycorrhizas of 12 species of Polygala (Polygalaceae), including herbs, subshrubs and one shrub, collected from Germany, Mallorca (Spain) and Malta, were investigated by morpho‐anatomical and molecular methods. Aseptate hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles indicate an arbuscular mycorrhiza in all species examined. Hyphal spread in Polygala is predominantly, but not exclusively, intracellular and comprises three characteristic stages of colonization: (i) intracellular, linear hyphal growth in a cascading manner after penetration towards the penultimate parenchyma layer (layer 2), (ii) initially linear hyphal growth in the cells of layer 2 from where hyphal branches repeatedly penetrate the anatomically distinct innermost parenchyma layer (layer 1), forming arbuscule‐like structures therein which are subject to degeneration, (iii) more branches from the linear hyphae in layer 2 develop, but coil and make contact to the layer outside layer 2 (layer 3) in which arbuscule‐like structures similar to those in layer 1 form and degenerate. This general colonization pattern differs in details between the species, and critical comparisons, in particular between the woody P. myrtifolia, the herbaceous Polygala spp. and the mycoheterotrophic Epirixanthes spp. (Polygalaceae) suggest an evolutionary shift of mycorrhizal features within the family towards an optimization of plant benefit through the fungus. Based on the molecular marker 18S rDNA mycorrhizal fungi detected in roots of Polygala spp. are largely restricted to five clades of Glomeraceae 1 (Glomus Group A). This result rejects the hypothesis of a strict symbiotic specificity in Polygalaceae but may stimulate a discussion on functionally compatible groups of fungi.     

Screening of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the revegetation of eroded red soils in subtropical China

Some acidic red soils in hilly regions of subtropical China were degraded as a result of slope erosion following the removal of natural vegetation, primarily for fuel. Revegetation is important for the recovery of the degraded ecosystem, but plant growth is limited by the low fertility of eroded sites. One factor contributing to the low fertility may be low inoculum density of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Compared to red soils under natural vegetation or in agricultural production, substrates on eroded sites had significantly lower AM fungal propagule densities. Thus, the management and/or application of AM fungi may increase plant growth and accelerate revegetation. Thirteen species of AM fungi were identified in red soils by spore morphology. Scutellospora heterogama, Glomus manihotis, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus aggregatum and Acaulospora laevis were among the most common according to spore numbers. Pot cultures were used to isolate and propagate 14 isolates of AM fungi indigenous to red soil. The effectiveness of each fungus in promotion of growth of mungbean was evaluated in red soil. For comparison, three isolates from northern China, known to be highly effective in neutral soils, and two isolates from Australia, known to be from acidic soil were used. Effectiveness was positively related to root infection (r ² = 0.601). For two of these isolates, Glomus caledonium (isolated from northern China) and Glomus manihotis (an isolate indigenous to red soil), the applied P concentration giving the highest infection and response to infection was approximately 17.5 mg P kg^–1 soil. In field experiments in which this concentration of P was applied, the five most effective isolates were tested on mungbean. The Glomus caledonium isolate from northern China was the most effective, followed by the indigenous Glomus manihotis isolate. The Glomus caledonium isolate was also shown to be effective on Lespedeza formosa, which is commonly used in revegetation efforts. We conclude that inoculation of plants with selected isolates of AM fungi may aid in revegetation efforts on eroded red soils in subtropical China.     

Potential of Crotalaria species as green manure crops for the management of pathogenic nematodes and beneficial mycorrhizal fungi

On the basis of preliminary experiments, some Crotalaria species from Senegal were investigated to determine (1) their susceptibility to Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita compared to a sensitive host (tomato), (2) their mycorrhizal and rhizobial responses, and (3) the effect of their cultivation on the mycorrhizal soil infectivity. The nematode invasion rates on Crotalaria spp. ranked from 0.17 to 7.17% and from 0.58 to 5.25%, respectively, for M. incognita and M. javanica, vs. 97% and 77% on tomato. Moreover, the inoculated J2 which invaded tomatoes developed into adult females, while those on Crotalaria spp. rarely developed beyond the third stage, confirming that all Crotalaria spp. evaluated are non hosts or poor hosts. In two other experiments, Crotalaria spp. were inoculated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices). Mycorrhization was generally well developed among Crotalaria species, and mycorrhizal colonization enhanced mainly phosphorus content of shoot tissues and always significant plant growth. Inoculation with both rhizobial isolates and Glomus intraradices enhanced growth and nodule formation on some Crotalaria species. The data recorded in both experiments showed, for the first time, that Crotalaria spp. are highly mycorrhiza dependent, some of them reaching more than 90% mycorrhizal dependency. Among Crotalaria species, twelve were used in two different experiments. A significant correlation was obtained between their mycorrhizal dependencies calculated on the shoot dry mass recorded in each experiment. Crotalaria spp. could be used as pre-crops for providing green manure while at the same time decreasing the level of detrimental nematodes and increasing the level of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.     

Plant and fungal identity determines pathogen protection of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizas

1.  A major benefit of the mycorrhizal symbiosis is that it can protect plants from below-ground enemies, such as pathogens. Previous studies have indicated that plant identity (particularly plants that differ in root system architecture) or fungal identity (fungi from different families within the Glomeromycota) can determine the degree of protection from infection by pathogens. Here, we test the combined effects of plant and fungal identity to assess if there is a strong interaction between these two factors.
2.  We paired one of two plants ( Setaria glauca , a plant with a finely branched root system and Allium cepa , which has a simple root system) with one of six different fungal species from two families within the Glomeromycota. We assessed the degree to which plant identity, fungal identity and their interaction determined infection by Fusarium oxysporum , a common plant pathogen.
3.  Our results show that the interaction between plant and fungal identity can be an important determinant of root infection by the pathogen. Infection by Fusarium was less severe in Allium (simple root system) or when Setaria (complex root system) was associated with a fungus from the family Glomeraceae. We also detected significant plant growth responses to the treatments; the fine-rooted Setaria benefited more from associating with a member of the family Glomeraceae, while Allium benefited more from associating with a member of the family Gigasporaceae.
4.   Synthesis . This study supports previous claims that plants with complex root systems are more susceptible to infection by pathogens, and that the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can reduce infection in such plants – provided that the plant is colonized by a mycorrhizal fungus that can offer protection, such as the isolates of Glomus used here.     

Influence of liming and acidification on the activity of the mycorrhizal communities in a Picea abies (L.) Karst. stand

A study of mycorrhizal activity was conducted in a mature Norway spruce ((Picea abies) [L.] Karst.) stand subjected to soil treatments of liming and acidification for six years (Höglwald research project). Samples were collected five times during one growing season using a soil corer. All the turgescent, not shriveled mycorrhizal tips were sorted out and identified on the fungal species level as far as yet possible. The proportion of each mycorrhizal type on the plots was calculated. The results revealed a shift in the mycorrhizal communities caused by both acid rain and liming. Data are in agreement with the findings of the more comprehensive study on the mycorrhizal communities carried out by another research group on the same plots (Taylor et al., submitted)The activity of the predominant types of mycorrhizas, Piceirhiza gelatinosa, Piceirhiza nigra, Russula ochroleuca-P. abies, Tuber puberulum-P. abies, Tylospora sp.-P. abies, Xerocomus badius-P. abies, was investigated by staining hand sectioned tips with FDA and their fluorescence. Different FDA-hydrolysing activities of the mycorrihizal types had been found in a previous-year study on the same plots and were confirmed during the second year. The proportion of the different stages of activity of the mycorrhizal tissues was calculated on the type level and in connection to the soil treatments. X. badius-P. abies and R. ochroleuca-P. abies displayed the most active fungal tissues and proportion increased on the acidic plots while Tuber puberulum-P. abies and Piceirhiza nigra were the most active types and occurred in higher proportion after liming. Thus, the overall activities of the mycorrhizas were only slightly changed by the treatments. In addition to the mycorrhizal effect acidification reduced while liming enhanced the meristematic activity of the short root tips. The same tendency was found by studying root production on the same plots (Hahn and Marschner, 1998). Although nearly 3000 mycorrhizal tips were studied, the data are still limited, allowing no statistical validation. This is, however, the first investigation connecting overall activity of the mycorrihizal tissues with the proportion of the mycorrhizal types as influenced both by alterations of the forest soil caused by acid rain and liming. The results are interesting and reasonable but further investments are necessary to validate the general conclusions.     

丛枝菌根真菌与植食性昆虫的相互作用

丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal AM)真菌与昆虫均是陆地生态系统中的重要组分,同植物关系密切,对植物的影响和作用是巨大的。生态系统中则以AM真菌-植物-昆虫互作体系参预食物网与生态过程。早在20世纪80年代,人们已开始研究AM真菌对昆虫的影响。进入21世纪人们越来越重视AM真菌与昆虫的相互作用。总结了AM真菌对昆虫取食偏好、生长、繁殖和对植物危害等方面的影响、以及昆虫对AM真菌侵染、扩展和产孢的影响;分析了植物营养状况、昆虫性别、昆虫龄期和AM真菌种类等对AM真菌与昆虫相互作用的影响特点;探讨了AM真菌与昆虫相互作用的机制;展望了利用AM真菌抑制植食性害虫、及促进天敌昆虫和部分传粉昆虫作用的可能性,旨在丰富菌根学研究内容、促进AM真菌与昆虫互作领域的深入研究、为探索生物防控农林业害虫的新途径提供依据。     

美花石斛菌根真菌接菌方式与接种效应初步研究

自然条件下,兰科菌根真菌的共生对于兰科植物种子萌芽和植株生长是必不可少的。为探讨有益共生真菌对兰科植物生长的促进作用,特别是在实验室环境下接菌方式的改变与接种效应直接的联系,本研究从野生美花石斛(Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe.)新鲜营养根中分离、筛选出3种菌根真菌（M1、M2和M3）,采用单一接菌和混合接菌的接种方式,分析3个菌株及其不同接种方式对美花石斛生长的影响。研究得到优势菌株M1和M3,并证实混合接菌对美花石斛的生物量增长具有较好的正效应,两两混合接种方式M1-M2、M2-M3及3个混合接种方式M1-M2-M3均能较好的促进美花石斛生物量的积累。充分发挥混合接菌对兰科植物生长发育所产生的效能,提高生产效率,具有较强的现实意义。     

An ectomycorrhizal nitrogen economy facilitates monodominance in a neotropical forest

Tropical forests are renowned for their high diversity, yet in many sites a single tree species accounts for the majority of the individuals in a stand. An explanation for these monodominant forests remains elusive, but may be linked to mycorrhizal symbioses. We tested three hypotheses by which ectomycorrhizas might facilitate the dominance of the tree, Oreomunnea mexicana, in montane tropical forest in Panama. We tested whether access to ectomycorrhizal networks improved growth and survival of seedlings, evaluated whether ectomycorrhizal fungi promote seedling growth via positive plant–soil feedback, and measured whether Oreomunnea reduced inorganic nitrogen availability. We found no evidence that Oreomunnea benefits from ectomycorrhizal networks or plant–soil feedback. However, we found three‐fold higher soil nitrate and ammonium concentrations outside than inside Oreomunnea‐dominated forest and a correlation between soil nitrate and Oreomunnea abundance in plots. Ectomycorrhizal effects on nitrogen cycling might therefore provide an explanation for the monodominance of ectomycorrhizal tree species worldwide.     

非豆科植物共生受体样蛋白激酶研究进展

植物根部能够与微生物形成相互依存、互惠互利的共生关系,非豆科植物根系主要与内生真菌形成菌根的共生体。共生受体样蛋白激酶(symbiosis receptor-like kinase,SYMRK)是植物识别菌根真菌诱导而产生的特异分子,它的蛋白结构由三个部分组成,即包含3个富含亮氨酸重复序列(LRRs)的胞外受体结合域、跨膜区和胞内蛋白激酶域。Symrk是控制共生形成的一个关键组分,该基因所编码的蛋白在植物识别和应答菌根真菌早期信号转导途径中是必需的。对Symrk基因的研究为进一步弄清植物-真菌共生的功能和作用机理打下了坚实的基础。     

我国东南沿海地区的VA菌根真菌 Ⅰ.四种硬囊霉

报道了从我国东南沿海地区山东、浙江、福建、广东、广西、海南等省分离的四种VA菌根真菌:枫香硬囊霉Sclerocystis liquidambaris Wu & Chen,台湾硬囊霉Sclerocystis taiwanensis Wu & Chen,悬钩子状硬囊霉Sclerocystis rubiformis Gerdemann & Trappe,弯丝硬囊霉Sclerocystis sinuosa Gerdemann & Bakshi。其中枫香硬囊霉,台湾硬囊霉和悬钩子状硬囊霉在我国大陆初次发现。本文详细记叙了以上四个种的形态特征及生境状况。     

丛枝菌根真菌对小麦生长的影响

为了促进经济作物小麦的生长,提高土壤氮磷循环与转化效率,选择两种优良丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)——摩西球囊霉(GM,Glomus mosseae)、根内球囊霉(GI,Glomus intraradices),研究AMF在小麦整个营养生长阶段中对其生长以及对土壤中植物生长需求的大量元素——氮、磷的作用及影响。结果表明:人工施加菌剂可显著提高AMF对小麦的侵染率,施加GM菌剂时,小麦侵染率提高24.54%,同时,株高提高14.08%,小麦地上生物量提高24.05%。GM效果优于GI。施加菌剂后,小麦侵染率与土壤中水解性氮呈显著正相关;植物地上生物量与土壤中总氮,水解性氮呈显著负相关。表明AMF可活化土壤中的氮元素,同时促进作物生长,强化对土壤中氮元素的利用。