光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗生长及形态特征的影响

对生长于不同光照环境(林内和林外)下的蒙古栎幼苗的形态特征进行了比较.结果表明,光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗的生物量及其分配具有明显影响,林外幼苗单株生物量为林外的4.48倍,其中以根系生物量的差别为最大,林外为林内的6.23倍;林外与林内幼苗根冠比分别为2.70和1.11.在不同的光照条件下,蒙古栎幼苗的叶片形态表现出明显不同,林外叶片比叶面积明显低于林内,分别为139.55cm2/g 和284.94cm2/g,林内约为林外的2.04倍;一次生长叶面积林外明显低于林内,总叶面积则高于林内.二次生长使蒙古栎幼苗的叶面积有明显增加,但是经过二次生长后,幼苗的单株生物量没有明显增加,说明二次生长叶片对于蒙古栎幼苗生物量的积累没有明显贡献;光照对于蒙古栎主干及根系的形态具有明显影响,林外幼苗高(包括二次生长)明显低于林内幼苗,而地径则相反,林外幼苗根系的长度和直径则明显高于林内幼苗;林外幼苗顶芽体积明显大于林内幼苗.同时,林外幼苗的二次生长导致顶芽体积明显下降,从而对翌年的高生长量和未来干型产生影响.认为,蒙古栎幼苗通过形态上的一系列可塑性变化来适应不同的光环境以获取最大的碳收益.     

降雨格局变化对红砂幼苗根系生长和生物量分配的影响

以自然生长的典型红砂(Reaumuria songarica(Pall.)Maxim.)群落中的幼苗为研究对象,以自然降雨为对照,设定降雨量减少30%(W~-)、不变(W)和增加30%(W~+)3个降雨量水平,2个降雨时间间隔即自然降雨时间(T)、延长降雨间隔时间至1.5倍(T~+)),研究降雨格局变化对红砂幼苗根系生长和生物量分配的影响。结果表明:(1)同一降雨量条件下,降雨间隔延长促进了红砂幼苗主根的伸长生长、增加了根表面积,增大了根冠比,有利于红砂幼苗根系生长。(2)降雨量较少的条件下(W~-、W),延长降雨间隔促使红砂幼苗地下、地上及总生物量累积;而降雨量较多(W~+)条件下,延长降雨间隔使各部分生物量有所降低,但差异不显著。(3)在自然降雨间隔条件下,降雨量的增加使红砂幼苗的总生物量和主根长呈增加的变化趋势,对其生长起到促进作用。研究认为,降雨格局的变化会明显影响自然生长的红砂群落中幼苗的生长和生物量分配。     

酸雨对大豆幼苗根系形态及矿质营养的影响

目的研究酸雨对大豆幼苗根系形态及矿质营养代谢的影响。方法采用营养液培养的方法,研究不同pH 2.5、3.0、3.5、4.0和4.5模拟酸雨对大豆幼苗根系形态、根系活力及根系硝酸还原酶活性的影响。结果酸雨pH≤3.0时对大豆幼苗根系形态及根系活力的作用明显,呈现抑制作用;根系硝酸还原酶活性先随pH(≥3.5)的降低而缓慢升高,之后迅速降低。结论酸雨对大豆幼苗根系生长及矿质营养代谢有抑制作用,且pH=3.0是酸雨对大豆幼苗根系形态及矿质营养影响的关键点。     

光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗生长特性和光合特征的影响

为了研究不同光照条件下蒙古栎幼苗的生长过程,本文通过控制实验,模拟设计4种不同的光照条件:全光照(FS)、轻度遮荫(LS)、中度遮荫(MS)和重度遮荫(SS),对蒙古栎幼苗的形态特征、光合特性和生物量分配进行比较研究。结果表明:中度遮荫和重度遮荫条件下蒙古栎幼苗的比叶面积显著大于全光照和轻度遮荫,不同光照条件下苗高无显著差异,全光照条件下蒙古栎幼苗的地径显著大于中度遮荫和重度遮荫,同时,全光照条件下的主根长度和根径显著大于3种遮荫条件,而轻度遮荫和中度遮荫又显著大于重度遮荫;最大净光合速率表现为轻度遮荫全光照中度遮荫重度遮荫的趋势,表观量子效率在全光照与轻度遮荫时显著大于中度遮荫和重度遮荫,暗呼吸速率无显著差异;全光照下单株总生物量和根系生物量最高,轻度遮荫和中度遮荫次之,重度遮荫最低;叶片生物量和茎生物量差异较小;不同器官生物量分配表现为根叶茎,并且根生物量所占比重在68%~76%之前;全光照、轻度遮荫和中度遮荫的根冠比显著高于重度遮荫。     

降雨格局变化对白刺幼苗根系形态特征的影响

为探讨荒漠植物白刺幼苗根系形态对降雨格局变化的响应特征,设置3个降雨量梯度(W-、W、W+)和2个降雨间隔时间梯度(T、T+)进行人工模拟试验,结果表明,1)降雨量和降雨间隔时间对白刺幼苗根系形态有不同程度的影响,且降雨量的作用效应更大。2)降雨量相同时,延长降雨间隔时间均使白刺幼苗主根长、根系平均直径、根体积和根表面积减小,但总根长和根系生物量和总生物量却增加,在高降雨量条件下(W+)延长降雨间隔时间白刺幼苗比根长和比表面积分别增加了45.09%和20.20%,但差异均不显著。3)降雨间隔时间相同时,降雨量减少30%仅使主根长平均增加12.06%,总根长、根平均直径、根体积和根表面积等根系形态指标均显著减少,比根长和比表面积变化不大;降雨量增加30%仅使比表面积显著增加,其余各形态指标差异均不显著,低降雨量条件下(W-)主根长与根冠比达到最大,其他指标均在高降雨量条件下(W+)达到最大。4)对8个根系形态参数进行主成分分析,根系生物量、总根长、总根表面积、比根长、比表面积和根体积6个根系生态参数受降雨格局影响显著。     

干旱对红松和蒙古栎幼苗生长的影响及种间竞争

以红松(Pinus koraiensis Sieb.et Zucc.)和蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica Fisch.ex Ledeb.)幼苗为研究对象,针对东北地区未来可能的干暖气候条件,利用盆栽实验进行干旱条件下两种幼苗的生长与竞争研究,分析其光合生理参数和生物量变化。一个生长季的实验结果表明:(1)干旱致使红松和蒙古栎幼苗的光合速率均下降,蒙古栎降低幅度达到显著水平,红松下降不显著。干旱使蒙古栎的水分利用效率下降而红松却显著增加。干旱还导致蒙古栎幼苗的茎叶和侧根生物量以及全株叶面积下降,但却增加了红松的细根生物量和根冠比。(2)混栽栽植处理降低了蒙古栎幼苗的最大净光合速率和水分利用效率,进而减少了其茎和侧根生物量。而对于红松幼苗,混栽同样降低了其水分利用效率,但也增加了其比叶面积和全株叶面积,因而对幼苗生长影响较小。以上结果表明,蒙古栎对干旱反应更为敏感和迅速。种间竞争中红松幼苗比蒙古栎幼苗表现出更强的竞争能力。     

冠层光谱组成对红松和蒙古栎幼苗生长和光合荧光特性的影响

本研究选择长白山阔叶红松林优势树种红松和蒙古栎幼苗为对象,研究其植株形态、生长和光合荧光特性对5种光谱处理的响应。结果表明: 红松与蒙古栎的形态结构与生长主要受蓝光与紫外B区(UV-B)辐射调控。滤除蓝光后两种幼苗的植株叶面积比和相对生长速率均显著降低,而滤除UV-B辐射显著增加了红松的叶面积比和相对生长速率,分别上升了41.8%和47.7%,降低了蒙古栎的株高、总叶面积和生物量积累。滤除UV-B辐射显著降低了2种幼苗的光合荧光调节能力,红松的下降幅度较低,其非调节性耗散的量子产量(Φ_NO)升高31.6%,反映光合荧光调节能力的Φ_NPQ/Φ_NO值降低37.5%。2个树种幼苗具有明显不同的光谱适应策略,蒙古栎幼苗偏向于利用光谱变化调整自身形态增加光捕获能力,而红松更注重调整光合荧光特征以提高碳同化效率。     

光照强度和氮水平对白三叶幼苗生长与光合生理特性的影响

采用植物生长箱溶液培养方式,对白三叶幼苗进行了不同光强(2个水平)和氮浓度(5个水平)处理,探讨其生长、生物量和光合生理特征对生境变化的响应.结果表明:两种光强下白三叶幼苗茎和叶生物量随氮素浓度呈先升高后降低,而根系生物量和根冠比则随氮素浓度增高而降低.光照强度降低使白三叶幼苗根、茎、叶和整株生物量分别降低67.8%、29.9%、42.5%和45.2%;低光处理使幼苗的根冠比显著下降,而比叶面积(SLA)明显提高.幼苗根系体积随氮素浓度增高而降低,高生长光强根系体积显著高于低生长光强下的白三叶.幼苗根系表面积、根系长度和根系直径随氮素浓度增加呈先增加后降低趋势,两种不同生长光强下幼苗根系长度和根系直径差异显著,而根系表面积差异不明显.白三叶叶片光合速率(Pn)随氮素浓度增加呈先增加后降低趋势,高生长光强白三叶Pn显著高于低生长光强下的白三叶.两种生长光强间叶片气孔导度(Gs),胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和蒸腾速率(Tr)无显著差异,但氮素浓度对叶片Gs、Ci和Tr均有显著影响.光、氮及其交互作用对白三叶幼苗生长发育产生了显著影响,光照不足和氮缺乏都将导致白三叶幼苗生长减弱,但幼苗对这些不利环境具有较强的调节和适应能力.     

降水变化和种间竞争对红松和蒙古栎幼苗生长的影响

针对全球变暖导致的降水格局的变化,选择长白山红松针阔叶混交林主要树种蒙古栎和红松幼苗为研究对象,在野外自然条件下人工模拟增、减水30%对单种和混种的针阔叶树种形态、生长和生物量分配的影响. 结果表明：对于蒙古栎幼苗,与单种处理相比,混种显著增加了其冠幅和主根长,与对照处理相比,减水处理显著提高了其茎质比、降低了其主根长; 对于红松幼苗,与单种处理相比,混种显著减少了其基径、树高、叶片数和根、茎、叶质量及总干质量,与对照处理相比,减水处理显著降低了其主根长、叶片数、叶质量和总干质量以及叶质比,同时显著提高了茎质比. 增水处理对二者的影响均不显著. 在树木生长初期,种间竞争和降水格局变化对蒙古栎和红松幼苗形态和生长均产生显著影响,对红松幼苗的影响更大.     

红松和蒙古栎种子萌发及幼苗生长对升温与降水综合作用的响应

研究气候变暖导致的温度升高和降水格局的变化对典型植被类型建群种植物种子萌发和幼苗存活的影响,对于预测森林群落的发展趋势、种质资源保育及森林抚育更新具有重要意义.以寒温带针阔混交林的建群种和优势种红松Pinus koraiensis、蒙古栎Quercus mongolica种子和幼苗为研究对象,采用空间替代法模拟温度升高和降水变化,观察其种子萌发和幼苗生长情况.结果表明:与种源地相比,蒙古栎种子在温度升高与降水增加(年均温+4.9℃,+330 mm)或降水减少(年均温+2.8℃,-249 mm)的条件下萌发率分别下降了13％和18％,但差异不显著.红松种子在温度升高与降水增加的情况下萌发率比种源地提高了2.29倍,而降水减少时则下降了64％,不同的地点对红松的萌发率差异极显著;不同的温度、降水组合对红松和蒙古栎幼苗的生长均产生不同影响,在温度升高与降水增加与降水减少的情况下,1年生蒙古栎幼苗的株高、基径和主根长度均有明显下降,与种源地差异显著,而对红松幼苗生长的影响差异不显著;温度升高和降水增加或降水减少的交互作用使蒙古栎幼苗和红松幼苗总生物量下降,尤其是在温度升高与降水增加的条件下两种幼苗的生物量最小,分别比种源地下降了62％和20％.但统计分析表明,红松幼苗生物量在3个样地间没有显著差异.温度升高和降水变化均降低了两种幼苗的根冠比,而比叶面积没有显著差异.     

Interactive effects of exogenous growth regulators and artificial acid rain on cytokinins and gibberellins in maple seedlings

Vegetation experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions in which long-term effects of simulated acid rain on the shoots, and short-term effects of acidified root medium on the roots of two maple species (Acer pseudoplatanus L. andAcer negundo L.) were studied. Both alternatives of the acidification stress were studied with respect to exogenous applications of auxins and gibberellins. Changes in seedling growth caused by acid rain were not marked, but changes in the levels of endogenous growth regulators were detected, both the long-term exposure ofAcer pseudoplatanus L. seedling shoots to acid rain and the short-term acidification of root environment resulted in enhanced cytokinin activity and in decreased gibberellin activity. But when A.pseudoplatanus L. seedlings were pretreated with gibberellins, their activity was further increased by increased acidity.Acer negundo L. seedlings responded to the acidification of their root environment with enhanced cytokinin activity only when pretreated with exogenous auxins. The differences in the responses ofA. pseudoplatanus L. and A.negundo L. to the acidification can be explained in terms of their distinct physiological properties, including changes recorded in chlorophyll content. The results obtained show that a pretreatment of maple seedlings with exogenous growth regulators can modify the effects of increased acidity in the environment on their physiological status as characterized by the level of endogenous cytokinins and gibberellins.     

Increased nitrogen deposition alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus variabilis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus mongolica</Emphasis> seedlings

The plasticity response of Quercus variabilis and Quercus mongolica seedlings to combined nitrogen (N) deposition and drought stress was evaluated, and their performance in natural niche overlaps was predicted. Seedlings in a greenhouse were exposed to four N deposition levels (0, 4, 8, and 20 g N m^?2 year^?1) and two water levels (80 and 50 % field-water capacity). Plant traits associated with growth, biomass production, leaf physiology, and morphology were determined. Results showed that drought stress inhibited seedling performance, altered leaf morphology, and decreased fluorescence parameters in both species. By contrast increased N supply had beneficial effects on the nutritional status and activity of the PSII complex. The two species showed similar responses to drought stress. Contrary to the effects in Q. mongolica, N deposition promoted leaf N concentration, PSII activity, leaf chlorophyll contents, and final growth of Q. variabilis under well-watered conditions. Thus, Q. variabilis was more sensitive to N deposition than Q. mongolica. However, excessive N supply (20 g N m^?2 year^?1) did not exert any positive effects on the two species. Among the observed plasticity of the plant traits, plant growth was the most plastic, and leaf morphology was the least plastic. Therefore, drought stress played a primary role at the whole-plant level, but N supply significantly alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress on plant physiology. A critical N deposition load around 20 g N m^?2 year^?1 may exist for oak seedlings, which may more adversely affect Q. variabilis than Q. mongolica.     

蒙古栎苗期种源分析

对带岭试验地25个蒙古栎种源的树高、地径进行调查分析,得到如下结论：（1）蒙古栎1年生苗高、地径及6年生树高、地径间呈正相关且达到了极显著水平。蒙古栎种源各生长性状存在着显著性差异,这表明蒙古栎种源选择是十分必要的。苇河、集安种源可初步作为带岭试验地的优良种源应用于林业生产。（2）蒙古栎地理变异总趋势受经纬度影响,其中经度影响略大。（3）不同蒙古栎种源生长性状、地理、气象因子之间具有一定的相关性。（4）将参试的25个种源划分为3个种源区,Ⅰ区种源多数分布在长白山南部、龙岗山一带,Ⅱ区种源多数分布在长白山及老爷岭,Ⅲ区种源位于小兴安岭和张广才岭。     

盐胁迫对2种栎树苗期生长和根系生长发育的影响

以低浓度(50 mmol/L)和高浓度(150 mmol/L)NaCl处理弗吉尼亚栎(Quercus virginiana)和麻栎(Quercus acutissima)1年生幼苗,研究了2种栎树在盐胁迫下的生长、对盐分的敏感性和耐受性及其根系形态学参数变化以及根系对盐离子的吸收与积累。结果表明,高浓度盐胁迫明显抑制了2种栎树地上部生物量的积累(P0.05),而低浓度盐胁迫对弗吉尼亚栎地上部干重的影响不明显,但显著抑制了麻栎地上部干重(P0.05);2种栎树的根冠比在盐胁迫下呈增加趋势,特别是在高浓度盐胁迫下,2种栎树的根冠比明显增加(P0.05),盐胁迫下增加生物量在根部的分配是植物应对盐胁迫的方式之一。2种栎树根部生物量积累在盐胁迫下变化不明显,但2种栎树根系形态学参数在盐胁迫下的响应不同,弗吉尼亚栎根系总长度、总表面积和总体积在盐胁迫下均有不同程度增加,特别是在低浓度盐胁迫下,根系形态学参数明显增加(P0.05),但麻栎根系形态学参数有下降趋势,但与对照相比变化不明显;通过对不同径级根系总长的分析发现,弗吉尼亚栎根系总长度的增加主要是由于直径小于2 mm的细根总长的增加,细根长度的增加对于植物吸收水分和营养物质具有重要意义;通过对Na+和Cl-在根系的含量分析表明,盐胁迫下2种栎树根系盐离子的积累均有明显增加,但弗吉尼亚栎根系盐离子的含量在低浓度和高浓度盐胁迫下的差异不明显,而麻栎在高浓度盐胁迫下根系盐离子的含量明显高于弗吉尼亚栎。综合2种栎树盐胁迫下的生物量分配策略和根系形态学响应以及盐离子的积累规律,证明2种栎树尽管在生物量分配策略方面具有相同的特点,但根系的响应策略截然不同,弗吉尼亚栎在盐胁迫下能够扩大根系吸收范围,维持较高的K+/Na+比值,而麻栎在盐胁迫下根系由于吸收过多的盐离子,导致根系的生长发育受到抑制,影响了根系在逆境中的分布范围,从而在一定程度上避免了进一步的盐害。     

接种彩色豆马勃对模拟酸沉降下马尾松幼苗生物量的影响

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

Root hydraulic conductance,gas exchange and leaf water potential in seedlings of Pistacia lentiscus L. and Quercus suber L. grown under different fertilization and light regimes

Differences in morphology, biomass allocations and physiological responses were investigated in seedlings of Mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) and Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) submitted to contrasting fertilization and light regimes during early growth. These species are two evergreen sclerophyllous Mediterranean species frequently used in Mediterranean reforestation programmes. Fertilization was the treatment that affected most of the morphological and physiological variables evaluated in P. lentiscus and Q. suber seedlings. Leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA) were affected by shading treatment in both species, showing higher values in seedlings grown under shade. P. lentiscus seedlings showed a high capacity to modify root morphological variables and root hydraulic conductance (K_R) with the fertilization treatment. In contrast, Q. suber showed low to moderate root system changes with the treatments applied, although the fertilization level affected biomass allocation (i.e., root to shoot ratio) in both species. Under high water demand, P. lentiscus seedlings with high K_R allowed transpiration (E) to increase without increasing the water potential gradient between soil and leaves. In Q. suber, high fertilization induced significant increases in photosynthesis (A), as well as a tendency to increase E with significantly lower leaf water potential (ψ_L).     

长期极端高温胁迫对樟子松幼苗生物量及非结构性碳水化合物的影响

采集东北地区(红花尔基、黑河、漠河)3个地理种群樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)的种子在温室进行育苗和培养,通过连续4年温室持续高温控制培育实验。研究了极端高温(+15℃,+18℃,+21℃)对不同地理种群樟子松幼苗的株高、基径、根冠比、生物量分配及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量的影响,探明樟子松对高温的耐受程度。结果表明:不同地理种群间幼苗的株高、基径、生物量累积存在显著差异,株高、基径、生长速率和总生物量都表现为:黑河(He)(+15℃)红花尔基(Ho)(+18℃)漠河(M)(+21℃);根冠比大小依次为:红花尔基(Ho)(+18℃)黑河(He)(+15℃)漠河(M)(+21℃)。可溶性糖和淀粉百分含量在同种群不同器官,及不同种群相同器官间均有差异。可溶性糖与淀粉在不同种群间均表现为:黑河(He)(+15℃)红花尔基(Ho)(+18℃)漠河(M)(+21℃),可溶性糖与淀粉在不同地理种群的相同器官中均表现为:叶根茎。黑河樟子松种群的幼苗对高温胁迫表现出较强的适应能力,具有比红花尔基和漠河樟子松更强的抗高温胁迫的生理基础,意味着樟子松幼苗可适应升高15℃的高温环境,而升高20℃则对其产生严重胁迫,是东北地区适应未来全球气候变暖的理想樟子松种源。     

寡雄腐霉发酵液对番茄生长的影响及对灰霉病的防治作用

为了研发对番茄灰霉病高效、稳定、安全的生物农药,试验利用自主分离获得的寡雄腐霉菌株制备发酵液,采用盆栽试验研究寡雄腐霉发酵液对番茄生长的影响和对灰霉病的防治效果及机制,并在大田生产中验证其生防效果。结果表明,盆栽试验中,寡雄腐霉发酵液促进健康番茄植株生长,植株总生物量和根系生物量分别增加9.5%和15.4%,提高了植株叶绿素含量、根系活力及氮、磷、钾吸收量,并使带病番茄植株的发病率和病情指数分别降低57.2%和60.3%,相对防治效果达60.3%,施用寡雄腐霉发酵液对番茄叶片细胞膜具有保护性,降低丙二醛含量,提高病原性相关酶""超氧化物歧化酶、多酚氧化酶和苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性。后续田间试验中寡雄腐霉发酵液对番茄灰霉病的防治效果达71.2%。说明寡雄腐霉发酵液能有效防治番茄灰霉病,还具有促进番茄生长的作用,并且可诱导番茄植株对病原菌的防御作用,应用前景广泛。     

蒙古栎和紫椴幼苗对光环境转变的光合作用响应

比较研究了从温室5%光强转到10%、30%和100%光强处理下,蒙古栎（Quercus mongolica）和紫椴（Tilia amurensis）幼苗的光合能力和叶绿素荧光的响应,揭示了两个树种对光环境变化的不同适应情况及其光保护机制。结果表明,光强转换后两种幼苗都发生了严重光抑制,蒙古栎幼苗的最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）在光强转变后第3天降到最低（0.52）,紫椴幼苗在光强转变后第1天就降到了最低（0.67）,蒙古栎降低幅度明显高于紫椴。之后随着光适应时间的延长逐渐恢复到原有水平,说明短时期的光抑制没有对两种幼苗的光合机构造成光损伤;从不同光照条件来看,无论是最大净光合速率（P_max）,还是实际光化学效率（ФPSⅡ）,2种幼苗均为30%光强下的值高于10%和100%光强,说明过低或过高的光强都不利于幼苗的生长发育,只有适当的中光才利于幼苗的生长发育;与30%光强相比,蒙古栎幼苗100%光强下P_max、F_v/F_m、ФPSⅡ、NPQ的变化幅度远大于紫椴幼苗,表明高光强对蒙古栎幼苗的影响要大于紫椴;100%光强下,2种幼苗均通过大量增加非光化学淬灭（NPQ）、类胡萝卜素和叶绿素之比（Car/Chl）耗散过剩光能,降低单位鲜重叶绿素含量（Chl）以减少光能吸收,避免了光合机构光破坏。     

Arbuscular-Mycorrhizal Networks Inhibit Eucalyptus tetrodonta Seedlings in Rain Forest Soil Microcosms

Eucalyptus tetrodonta, a co-dominant tree species of tropical, northern Australian savannas, does not invade adjacent monsoon rain forest unless the forest is burnt intensely. Such facilitation by fire of seedling establishment is known as the "ashbed effect." Because the ashbed effect might involve disruption of common mycorrhizal networks, we hypothesized that in the absence of fire, intact rain forest arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) networks inhibit E. tetrodonta seedlings. Although arbuscular mycorrhizas predominate in the rain forest, common tree species of the northern Australian savannas (including adult E. tetrodonta) host ectomycorrhizas. To test our hypothesis, we grew E. tetrodonta and Ceiba pentandra (an AM-responsive species used to confirm treatments) separately in microcosms of ambient or methyl-bromide fumigated rain forest soil with or without severing potential mycorrhizal fungus connections to an AM nurse plant, Litsea glutinosa. As expected, C. pentandra formed mycorrhizas in all treatments but had the most root colonization and grew fastest in ambient soil. E. tetrodonta seedlings also formed AM in all treatments, but severing hyphae in fumigated soil produced the least colonization and the best growth. Three of ten E. tetrodonta seedlings in ambient soil with intact network hyphae died. Because foliar chlorosis was symptomatic of iron deficiency, after 130 days we began to fertilize half the E. tetrodonta seedlings in ambient soil with an iron solution. Iron fertilization completely remedied chlorosis and stimulated leaf growth. Our microcosm results suggest that in intact rain forest, common AM networks mediate belowground competition and AM fungi may exacerbate iron deficiency, thereby enhancing resistance to E. tetrodonta invasion. Common AM networks–previously unrecognized as contributors to the ashbed effect–probably help to maintain the rain forest–savanna boundary.