Tracking carbon from the atmosphere to the rhizosphere |
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Authors: | På l A. Olsson, Nancy C. Johnson |
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Affiliation: | Department of Microbial Ecology, Ecology Building, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Turnover rates of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may influence storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). We examined the longevity of AM hyphae in monoxenic cultures; and we also used 13C incorporation into signature fatty acids to study C dynamics in a mycorrhizal symbiosis involving Glomus intraradices and Plantago lanceolata. 13C enrichment of signature fatty acids showed rapid transfer of plant assimilates to AM fungi and a gradual release of C from roots to rhizosphere bacteria, but at a much slower rate. Furthermore, most C assimilated by AM fungi remained 32 days after labelling. These findings indicate that 13C labelled fatty acids can be used to track C flux from the atmosphere to the rhizosphere and that retention of C in AM fungal mycelium may contribute significantly to SOC. |
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Keywords: | Arbuscular mycorrhiza bacteria 13C carbon cycling Glomus intraradices Plantago lanceolata signature fatty acids stable isotope |
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