不同磷浓度对丛枝菌根真菌吸收同化外源氮能力的影响

以高粱（ Sorghum bicolor）为宿主植物,丛枝菌根（ arbuscular mycrohiza,AM）真菌根内球囊霉（ Glomous intraradices）为接种菌剂,三室隔离培养盒为培养容器,通过在菌丝室添加不同浓度梯度磷素及外源氮NH4 NO3、Gln,研究磷浓度对AM真菌同化吸收不同外源氮能力的影响。实验结果显示：AM真菌能够侵染于高粱植物根系,但菌根侵染率差异不显著;在高磷浓度下孢子数量显著高于低磷浓度下孢子数量;菌丝室内根外菌丝（ ERM）干重在低磷浓度下含量最高,且以Gln为外源氮时含量比不加氮源和NH4 NO3为氮源时高;低磷浓度促使高粱地上茎叶和地下菌根干重显著提高,叶绿素含量在不同处理下没有显著差异。茎叶总氮含量均在以NH4 NO3为外源氮时最高,不同磷浓度下其总氮含量为P30＆gt;P120＆gt;P0＆gt;P60,菌根精氨酸含量在Gln为外源氮时含量比其他氮源下高,且在低磷（P30）浓度下含量最高。研究表明AM真菌对于吸收同化外源氮的能力与其生长环境中磷浓度高低有关,在低磷浓度下更利于AM真菌根外菌丝同化吸收外源氮,且对NH4＋形式氮源吸收能力最强。     

不同丛枝菌根真菌侵染对土壤结构的影响

为了定量化比较研究接种丛枝菌根真菌后,根际、菌根际和菌丝际土壤结构的变化,采用四室分根装置,比较中性紫色土接种不同AM真菌后,菌根际、根际、菌丝际和非根际土壤平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)和大于0.25mm团聚体总量(R_0.25)的变化。结果表明:接种3个菌种后菌丝际EEG和有机质含量均呈高于菌根际的趋势。菌丝密度和易提取球囊霉素相关蛋白(EEG)与MWD、GMD和R_0.25呈显著正相关,菌根际和菌丝际土壤水稳性R_0.25与菌丝密度显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.777和0.671。接种G. mosseae的菌根际土壤R_0.25值显著高于其它分室土壤,而接种G.etunicatum的菌丝际土壤R_0.25值显著高于其它分室土壤。试验结果在一定程度上说明不同菌种对土壤结构均有不同程度的影响,反映了丛枝菌根真菌生态功能的多样性。     

不同外源氮对丛枝菌根真菌Rhizophagus irregularis侵染棉花植株和氮磷转运的影响

探究供应外源氮对接种AM真菌的棉花植株的侵染率和氮磷转运的影响。本文以棉花为研究对象,接种丛枝菌根真菌(Rhizophagus irregularis),向根外菌丝额外供应不同外源氮,测AM真菌的侵染率、棉花植株株高、地上部和地下部鲜重、叶绿素含量、菌根精氨酸含量、地上部的氮磷含量。试验结果显示:不同外源氮条件下,AM真菌对棉花植株的生物量无显著性影响;外源氮的供应均提高了AM真菌的侵染率和棉花植株地上部的氮含量,但硫酸铵和硝酸钾更能促进AM真菌侵染宿主植物,提高宿主植物菌根精氨酸水平和地上部氮含量;除了尿素,其他氮源处理均能明显提高棉花植株地上部磷含量,其中,精氨酸最为显著。说明在AM共生系统中外源氮的供应对宿主植物生长无显著作用,但促进AM真菌侵染宿主植物,并能提高宿主植物氮磷含量。     

丛枝菌根真菌和施加不同形态氮肥对杉木幼苗养分吸收的影响

为了解丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和不同形态氮对杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)生长和养分吸收的影响,以1 a生杉木幼苗接种摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)和添加不同形态氮(NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^–-N),对其养分元素和生长状况的变化进行研究。结果表明,AMF显著提高了杉木的苗高和生物量,促进了杉木对N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe和Na的吸收,AMF对微量元素Fe、Na的促进作用总体上要强于大量元素K、Ca。与NO₃^–-N相比,AMF显著提高了NH₄⁺-N处理杉木的生物量、总C和N、Ca、Mg、Mn含量,而且这种显著性在叶中普遍高于根和茎。接种AMF可以促进杉木幼苗的生长和对养分元素的吸收,且添加NH₄⁺-N处理的促进作用要强于NO₃^–-N。     

丛枝菌根菌丝精氨酸双向运转并分解为鸟氨酸

通过^15N和^13C同位素标记证明了在丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM）菌丝内精氨酸（arginine,Arg）双向运转并分解为鸟氨酸（omithine,Ore）。离体菌根真菌Glomus intraradices和Ri T-DNA转化的胡萝卜根培养在两室（菌根室和真菌室）培养皿中。[^15N／^13C]Arg施加在菌根室或真菌室或非侵染根组织中。采用色质联用和液相色谱测定菌根和根外菌丝（extraradical mycelium,ERM）内自由氨基酸的含量和同位素标记。研究发现与外源性Arg相比,AM真菌ERM内Arg的坫N标记在ERM培养于外源性氮源NH^＋4和尿素时是最高的。但是,外源性C源甘油施加于ERM对Arg的^15N标记没有较大的影响。在此期间,ERM在培养于4mmol／LNH^4 6周后,其中Arg从ERM运转至菌根组织,并使菌根组织自由氨基酸中Arg的水平增加至20％左右。同时通过[U-^13C]Arg标记在真菌室或菌根室发现Arg可以沿AM真菌菌丝双向运转。被运转的Arg会进一步分解为Orn和尿素,因为[U-^13C]或[U-^15N／U-^13C]Arg标记于真菌室后完整的[U-^13C]或[U-^15N／U-^13C]Orn在菌根组织中产生。所以,Orn的生成标志着AM真菌氮代谢中发生了Arg的运转和分解代谢。     

丛枝菌根真菌对褐土玉米氮素吸收和土壤N2O排放的影响

探究不同氮肥水平下丛枝菌根(AM)真菌对褐土玉米土壤N₂O排放和氮转化功能基因的影响,为阐明AM真菌在褐土N₂O排放中的作用和效应提供理论依据。设置氮肥用量(NⅠ:105 mg/kg;NⅡ:210 mg/kg)、AM真菌(M0:不接种AM真菌;M1:接种根内根孢囊霉(Rhizophagus intraradices);M2:接种摩西斗管囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae);M3:接种Rhizophagus intraradices + Funneliformis mosseae等比例混合)双因素盆栽试验。测定植株地上部全氮含量、土壤铵态氮、硝态氮含量和N₂O排放量,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)法分析土壤硝化功能基因(amoA-AOA和amoA-AOB)和反硝化功能基因(nirS、nirK和nosZ)的丰度。结果表明,两种施氮水平下,接种AM真菌均可显著降低土壤N₂O排放通量和累积排放量,不同AM真菌处理下N₂O累积排放量表现为:M0>M2>M1>M3。相同AM真菌处理的土壤N₂O排放通量和累积排放量在NⅡ施氮水平高于NⅠ施氮水平;相同AM真菌处理的玉米菌根侵染率在NⅡ施氮水平低于NⅠ施氮水平。与M0相比,NⅠ条件下M1、M2和M3处理土壤铵态氮含量分别降低24.5%、20.8%和45.3%,硝态氮含量分别降低19.7%、14.9%和30.2%,植株地上部全氮含量分别增加16.3%、35.2%和59.6%;与M0相比,NⅡ条件下M1、M2和M3处理土壤铵态氮含量分别降低20.9%、24.8%和40.0%,硝态氮含量分别降低36.3%、25.6%和45.2%,植株地上部全氮含量分别增加33.2%、43.9%和95.4%。两种施氮水平下,AM真菌可显著降低土壤硝化功能基因(amoA-AOA和amoA-AOB)丰度,增加反硝化功能基因(nirS、nirK和nosZ)丰度。AM真菌与N₂O排放通量呈极显著负相关。本盆栽试验条件下,接种AM真菌均可增强两种氮肥用量玉米植株氮素吸收能力,调节硝化、反硝化相关功能基因的丰度,减少土壤N₂O气体的排放,且两种AM真菌混合处理的N₂O减排效应强于单一AM真菌接种。     

氮素形态对杉木幼苗侧根生长和叶片光合特性的影响

以3月龄的杉木实生苗为试验材料,分析了不同氮素形态——硝态氮(NO₃^- N)、铵态氮(NH4⁺ N)和硝酸铵(NH₄NO₃)(氮素浓度均为3 mmol·L^-1)对杉木幼苗侧根生长、叶片光合气体交换参数和叶绿素荧光参数的影响,以揭示杉木幼苗对不同形态氮的偏好性,以及不同形态氮肥下杉木幼苗侧根生长和光合生理的响应特征,为杉木苗期氮肥管理提供理论依据。结果显示：(1)不同氮素形态对杉木幼苗地上部和侧根生物量具有显著影响,其中NH₄⁺ N处理下幼苗地上部和侧根生物量最大,NO₃^- N处理次之,而NH₄NO₃处理最小。(2)NH₄⁺ N和NO₃^- N处理下杉木幼苗总根长、根系总表面积和根系总体积均显著高于NH₄NO₃处理(P＜0.05),且NH₄⁺ N处理又显著高于NO₃^- N处理,但不同氮形态处理间侧根数量差异不显著。(3)NH₄⁺ N处理下杉木幼苗叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率明显高于NO₃^- N和NH₄NO₃处理,但NO₃^- N和NH₄NO₃处理之间无明显差异。(4)NH₄⁺ N处理下杉木叶片初始荧光强度低于NO₃^- N处理,而最大荧光强度、可变荧光强度和PSⅡ潜在活性却高于全硝氮和硝铵氮处理。上述结果表明,NH₄⁺ N处理不仅有利于杉木幼苗侧根生长发育,且其叶片具有较强的光合能力,较高的PSⅡ中心稳定性、光化学活性以及电子传递效率,从而更有利于植株生长。因此,从根系生长和光合特性来看,杉木幼苗对铵态氮具有偏好性。     

丛枝菌根真菌萌发孢子利用不同氮素及外源葡萄糖对其代谢的影响

对各种含氮基质、葡萄糖和(或)根浸出液中培养的丛枝菌根真菌Glomus intraradices孢子,在萌发过程中对不同氮素的利用及其氨基酸的生物合成进行了研究.用稳定同位素标记及质谱仪来分析不同氮素的利用和氨基酸的生物合成.以高效液相色谱测量氨基酸的浓度.在缺少外源氮素的情况下,丛枝菌根真菌孢子萌发时可以利用内部储存的含氮化合物生物合成游离氨基酸.其中,丝氨酸和甘氨酸是大量合成的氨基酸.合成的氨基酸浓度在2周内随着萌发时间的增加而增加.在有可利用的外源无机氮(铵盐、硝酸盐和尿素)和有机氮(氨基酸)时,铵盐和尿素比硝酸盐更容易被AM真菌萌发孢子利用,而其利用氨基酸中的氮比无机氮源慢的多.孢子吸收同化外源无机氮,且将其整合到游离氨基酸中,这些新生氨基酸浓度比无外源氮添加时要高得多.在无葡萄糖添加的硝酸盐培养液中,AM真菌孢子中积累大量天冬酰胺.然而,在含有葡萄糖的培养液中,萌发孢子因葡萄糖的吸收促进了对外源氮的吸收,产生的游离氨基酸是无葡萄糖时的5倍,并且发现精氨酸转为含量最多的游离氨基酸.并且,从外源氮吸收同化的氮可以储存于精氨酸中,随之,精氨酸被整合到AM真菌孢子储存的蛋白质中.此外,根浸出原液在AM真菌孢子萌发2周后对氮的吸收作用不明显.     

连续三年夜间增温和施氮对云杉外生菌根及菌根真菌多样性的影响

以西南亚高山针叶林建群种粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)为研究对象,采用红外加热模拟增温结合外施氮肥(NH₄NO₃ 25 g N m^-2 a^-1)的方法,研究连续3a夜间增温和施肥对云杉幼苗外生菌根侵染率、土壤外生菌根真菌生物量及其群落多样性的影响。结果表明:夜间增温对云杉外生菌根侵染率的影响具有季节性及根级差异。夜间增温对春季(2011年5月)云杉1级根,夏季(2011年7月)和秋季(2010年10月)云杉2级根侵染率影响显著。除2011年7月1级根外,施氮对云杉1、2级根侵染率无显著影响。夜间增温对土壤中外生菌根真菌的生物量和群落多样性无显著影响,施氮及增温与施氮联合处理使土壤中外生菌根真菌生物量显著降低,但却提高了外生菌根真菌群落的多样性。这说明云杉幼苗外生菌根侵染率对温度较敏感,土壤外生菌根真菌生物量及其群落多样性对施氮较敏感。这为进一步研究该区域亚高山针叶林地下过程对全球气候变化的响应机制提供了科学依据。     

重庆酸雨区不同林型对土壤酸化和真菌群落的影响

不同林型土壤的酸化缓冲能力不同,真菌在土壤系统中扮演着重要的角色,而对土壤真菌群落结构和组成与土壤酸化的关系缺乏深入研究。以重庆铁山坪林场的马尾松纯林（Pi）和经马尾松纯林改造后的香樟纯林（Ci）、木荷纯林（Sc）、马尾松-香樟混交林（Pi_Ci）以及马尾松-木荷混交林（Pi_Sc）为研究对象,每个林型分别设置4个20 m×20 m的样地,分别采集腐殖质层（O层）和淋溶层（A层）土壤进行土壤性质及真菌群落分析,以探讨酸雨区森林土壤真菌群落与缓解土壤酸化的关系。研究表明：（1）与Pi相比,Ci土壤酸化明显缓解（高pH低NH₄ ： NO₃）,且能有效提高土壤全磷（TP）含量;而Sc虽然土壤pH值与Pi没有显著差异,但显著（P<0.05）提高了NH₄ ： NO₃,且显著降低土壤TP和全钾（TK）含量（P<0.05）;（2）不同林型土壤真菌群落多样性以Ci最为丰富,且表征土壤酸化的指标pH值、阳离子交换量（CEC）与真菌多样性显著正相关（P<0.05）,NH₄ ： NO₃与多样性显著负相关（P<0.05）;（3）林型和土层都对真菌群落结构有显著影响（P<0.001）,且林型的影响大于土层的影响;而土壤酸化程度将五个林型的土壤真菌群落区分成两个大类：Ci和Pi_Ci;Pi,Sc以及Pi_Sc。（4） Ci中有益菌（如Mortierella）更多,Pi以外生菌根真菌占优势（Russulaceae、Russula、Tomentella以及Sebacina）;Sc以及Pi_Sc则含有更多的植物病原菌（Cladophialophora,Paecilomyces,Venturiales）、嗜酸菌及产酸菌（Paecilomyces,Penicillium）。在酸雨区受损马尾松林地种植香樟促进土壤真菌多样性提高,且产酸真菌、嗜酸菌丰度降低,而有益真菌丰度增加,可有效缓解土壤酸化;而种植木荷后土壤中的病原菌、嗜酸菌和产酸菌相对丰度增加,导致土壤进一步酸化。因此,通过将受酸雨损害严重的马尾松纯林改造成香樟纯林或马尾松-香樟混交林,有助于缓解土壤的酸化,实现酸雨区森林生态系统的可持续发展。     

Arginine bi-directional translocation and breakdown into ornithine along the arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelium

Bi-directional translocation and degradation of Arginine (Arg) along the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal mycelium were testified through ¹⁵N and/or ¹³C isotopic labeling. In vitro mycorrhizas of Glomus intraradices and Ri T-DNA-transformed carrot roots were grown in dual compartment Petri dishes. [¹⁵N- and/or¹³C]Arg was supplied to either the fungal compartment or the mycorrhizal compartment or separate dishes containing the uncolonized roots. The levels and labeling of free amino acids (AAs) in the mycorrhizal roots and in the extraradical mycelia(ERM) were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ERM of AM fungi exposed in either NH₄ ⁺ or urea as sole external nitrogen source had much higher ¹⁵N enrichment of Arg, compared with those in nitrate or exogenous Arg; however, glycerol supplied as an external carbon source to the ERM had no significant effect on the level of Arg in the ERM. Meanwhile, Arg biosynthesized in the ERM could be translocated intact to the mycorrhizal roots and thereby the level of Arg in the mycorrhizal roots increased to about 20% after culture of ERM in 4 mmol/L NH₄ ⁺ for 6 weeks. Also Arg was found to be bi-directionally transported along the AM fungal mycelium through [U-¹³C]Arg labeling either in the mycorrhizal compartment or in the fungal compartment. Once Arg was translocated to the potential N-limited sites, it would be further degraded into ornithine (Orn) and urea since either [U-¹³C] or [U-¹⁵N/U-¹³C]Orn was apparently shown up in the mycorrhizal root tissues when [U-¹³C] or [U-¹⁵N/U-¹³C]Arg was labeled in the fungal compartment, respectively. Evidently Orn formation indicated the ongoing activities of Arg translocation and degradation through the urea cycle in AM fungal mycelium. Supported by Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. 2006C22009).     

Respiratory responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal roots to short-term alleviation of P deficiency

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) root respiration can impose a respiratory sink on host reserves under low P conditions, but it is not known how AM roots respond to short-term supply of sufficient P. Therefore, the effect of P stress alleviation on the respiration of AM roots was investigated in 5-week-old tomato plants. Plants were inoculated with Glomus mosseae in sand culture and grown hydroponically in a low P (2 μM) nutrient medium for 3 weeks. P stress was alleviated by the supply of 2 mM P for 72 h. With P stress alleviation, the improved root P status coincided with a decline in AM fungal activity and a reduction in root CO₂ and O₂ fluxes of the AM plants. During P stress alleviation, the AM roots had lower concentrations of organic acids, derived from root-zone CO₂ assimilation, in their root exudates. These results show that short-term alleviation of low P conditions in AM roots rapidly affects AM fungal symbiont activity, AM root respiration, and root-zone CO₂-derived organic acid metabolism.     

Transport of nitrogen and zinc to rhodes grass by arbuscular mycorrhiza and roots as affected by different nitrogen sources (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript>-N and NO<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript>-N)

We investigated the effect of mineral nitrogen forms on transfer of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) from attached compartments to rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) colonised with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). After being pre-cultivated in substrates with adequate nutrient supply and either AMF inoculated (+AM) or left non-inoculated (?AM), rhodes grass was positioned adjacent to an outer compartment holding a similar substrate but applied with labelled nitrogen (¹⁵N) either as ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) or nitrate (NO₃ ^?), and a high supply of Zn (150 mg kg^?1 DS). Plant roots together with fungal mycelium were either allowed to explore the outer compartment (with root access) or only mycorrhizal hyphae were allowed (without root access). Within each access treatment, biomasses of rhodes grass were not significantly affected by AMF inoculation or N form. AMF contribution to plant ¹⁵N uptake was about double in NH₄ ⁺ compared with NO₃ ^?-supplied treatments while the mycorrhizal influence on plant Zn uptake was insignificant. Without root access, the shoot ¹⁵N/Zn concentration ratio was up to ten-fold higher in +AM than –AM treatments and this ratio increase was clearly more pronounced in NH₄ ⁺ than NO₃ ^?-supplied treatments. In conclusion, rhodes grass in symbiosis with the tested AMF acquired more N when supplied with ammonium. Moreover, there is clear indication that although the AMF have transported both nutrients (N and Zn), N was preferentially transferred as compared to Zn. We confirmed that, while rhodes grass is not able to prevent excessive Zn uptake via roots under conditions of high Zn, mycorrhiza is able to avoid excessive Zn supply to the host plant when the fungus alone has access to contaminated patches.     

Two effects of combined nitrogen on the adhesion of Rhizobium etli to bean roots

Combined forms of nitrogen negatively influence rhizobia-legume symbiosis. The effects of combined nitrogen are known for nodulation and dinitrogen (N₂) fixation, but little is known about the effect on preinfection events. Here, we studied the effects of combined nitrogen on the adhesion of Rhizobium etli to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) roots. When potassium nitrate (KNO₃) or sodium glutamate was added to an incubation mixture of rhizobia and plants that were previously grown in nitrogen-free solution, rhizobial adhesion to roots was stimulated. However, the rhizobial adhesion to bean roots that were previously grown with 10 mM KNO₃ was reduced by half. A fraction of the bean root exudates, which is thermolabile and has molecular mass larger than 12 kDa stimulated rhizobial adhesion, but this stimulatory activity was lost in root exudates obtained with 10 mM KNO₃. Thus, the inhibition of symbiosis in response to combined nitrogen may be controlled by the plant at the preinfection stage as well.     

Phytate utilization of maize mediated by different nitrogen forms in a plant–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus–phosphate-solubilizing bacterium system

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the organic phosphorus (P) (phytate) utilization of Zea mays L. with different nitrogen (N) forms (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?) when both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Funelliformis mosseae) and phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (PSB, Pseudomonas alcaligenes) are present. The soil was supplied with either KNO₃ or (NH₄)₂SO₄ (200 mg kg^?1 N) with or without phytin (75 mg P kg^?1). Results showed that the application of NH₄⁺ to the soil in a plant–AM fungus–PSB system decreased rhizosphere pH and increased phosphatase activity. It also enhanced the mineralization rate of phytin, which resulted in the release of more inorganic P. The application of NO₃^? promoted mycorrhizal colonization and hyphal length density in the soil. The inorganic P in the hyphosphere decreased, but more P was transferred to the plant through the mycorrhizal hyphae. Hence, in addition, the application of the two different N forms did not significantly alter the content of plant P. The plant supplied with different N fertilizers acquired P through different mechanisms associated with other microbes. NH₄⁺ application promoted phytin mineralization by decreasing soil pH, whereas NO₃^? application increased inorganic P uptake by strengthening the mycorrhizal pathway.     

Enzymatic evidence for the key role of arginine in nitrogen translocation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Key enzymes of the urea cycle and (15)N-labeling patterns of arginine (Arg) were measured to elucidate the involvement of Arg in nitrogen translocation by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Mycorrhiza was established between transformed carrot (Daucus carota) roots and Glomus intraradices in two-compartment petri dishes and three ammonium levels were supplied to the compartment containing the extraradical mycelium (ERM), but no roots. Time courses of specific enzyme activity were obtained for glutamine synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase, arginase, and urease in the ERM and AM roots. (15)NH(4)(+) was used to follow the dynamics of nitrogen incorporation into and turnover of Arg. Both the absence of external nitrogen and the presence of L-norvaline, an inhibitor of Arg synthesis, prevented the synthesis of Arg in the ERM and resulted in decreased activity of arginase and urease in the AM root. The catabolic activity of the urea cycle in the roots therefore depends on Arg translocation from the ERM. (15)N labeling of Arg in the ERM was very fast and analysis of its time course and isotopomer pattern allowed estimation of the translocation rate of Arg along the mycelium as 0.13 microg Arg mg(-1) fresh weight h(-1). The results highlight the synchronization of the spatially separated reactions involved in the anabolic and catabolic arms of the urea cycle. This synchronization is a prerequisite for Arg to be a key component in nitrogen translocation in the AM mycelium.     

Effect of root exudates of mycorrhizal tomato plants on microconidia germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

The effect of root exudates from mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal tomato plants on microconidia germination of the tomato pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was tested. Microconidia germination was enhanced in the presence of root exudates from mycorrhizal tomato plants. Tomato plants were colonised by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatum, indicating that alterations of the exudation pattern depended on the degree of root AM colonisation. Testing the exudates from plants with a high and a low P level revealed that the alterations of the root exudates from mycorrhizal plants, resulting in a changed effect on microconidia germination, are not due to an improved P status of mycorrhizal plants.     

Root exudates of mycorrhizal tomato plants exhibit a different effect on microconidia germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici than root exudates from non-mycorrhizal tomato plants

The effect of root exudates from mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal tomato plants on microconidia germination of the tomato pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was tested. Microconidia germination was enhanced in the presence of root exudates from mycorrhizal tomato plants. The more tomato plants were colonized by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae, the more microconidia germination was increased, indicating that alterations of the exudation pattern depended on the degree of root AM colonization. Moreover, alterations of the exudation pattern of mycorrhizal plants are not only local, but also systemic. Testing the exudates from plants with a high and a low P level revealed that the alterations of the root exudates from mycorrhizal plants, resulting in a changed effect on microconidia germination, are not due to an improved P status of mycorrhizal plants.     

Differential effects of mineral and organic N sources,and of ectomycorrhizal infection by Hebeloma cylindrosporum,on growth and N utilization in Pinus pinaster

The effect of ectomycorrhizal association of Pinus pinaster with Hebeloma cylindrosporum was investigated in relation to the nitrogen source supplied as mineral (NH₄⁺ or NO₃^?) or organic N (L ‐glutamate) and at 5 mol m^?3. Plants were grown for 14 and 16 weeks with mineral and organic N, respectively, and samples were collected during the last 6 weeks of culture. Total fungal biomass was estimated using glucosamine amount and its viability was assessed using the glucosamine to ergosterol ratio. Non‐mycorrhizal plants grew better with NH₄⁺ than with NO₃^? and grew very slowly when supplied with L ‐glutamate. The presence of the fungus decreased the growth of the host plant with mineral N whereas it increased it with L ‐glutamate. Whatever the N source, most of the living fungal biomass was associated with the roots, whereas the main part of the total biomass was assayed outside the root. The form of mineral N did not significantly affect N accumulation rates over the 42 d in control plants. In mycorrhizal plants grown on either N source, the fungal tissues developing outside of the root were always the main N sink. The ectomycorrhizal association did not change ¹⁵NH₄⁺ uptake rate by roots, suggesting that the growth decrease of the host‐plant was related to the carbon cost for fungal growth and N assimilation rather than to a direct effect on NH₄⁺ acquisition. In contrast, in NO₃^?‐grown plants, in addition to draining carbon for NO₃^? reduction the fungus competed with the root for NO₃^? uptake. With NH₄⁺ or NO₃^? feeding, although mycorrhizal association improved N accumulation in shoots, we concluded that it was unlikely that the fungus had supplied the plant with N. In L ‐glutamate‐grown plants, the presence of the fungus increased the proportion of glutamine in the xylem sap and improved both N nutrition and the growth rate of the host plant.