(1) Soil Biology Unit, Land Resources Department, SAC Mill of Craibstone, AB2 9TS Aberdeen, UK;(2) Horticulture Department, Michigan State University, 48824 East Lansing, MI, USA;(3) SAC, West Mains Road, EH9 3JG Edinburgh, UK
Abstract:
Root longevity is an important element determining the fluxes of nutrients and carbon within terrestrial ecosystems. The effect of colonisation by an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on root longevity of poplar was determined using a minirhizotron camera to make direct observation of roots in situ in conjunction with image analysis. significant influences of colonisation on the longevity of roots were observed with most colonised roots surviving for a shorter period than non-colonised roots: only 16% of colonised roots survived for longer than 49 days compared to 49% of non-colonised roots. After 21 days approximately 5 times as many colonised as non-colonised roots had died. Possible mechanisms are discussed.