Contrasting response of seedlings of two tropical species Clusia minor and Clusia multiflora to mycorrhizal inoculation in two soils with different pH

Abstract

Differences in mycotrophic growth and response to phosphorus (P) fertilization were studied in seedlings of two woody native species: Clusia minor L. and Clusia multiflora H.B.K. from a cloud montane forest of tropical America. Greenhouse investigation was undertaken to determine the relationships between mycorrhizal dependency of host species associated with P utilization and growth in two different soils contrasting in pH (acidic and neutral) and nutrient content. Four treatments were performed: sterilized soil; sterilized soil plus 375 mg/kg of triple superphosphate (TSP); sterilized soil inoculated with Scutellospora fulgida (20 g/pot); and sterilized soil plus S. fulgida and TSP, with 10 replications per treatment for the two species. Results showed that both Clusia species presented high growth response to increasing P availability, which indicates that the root morphology (magnolioid roots) of these species is not a limiting factor for the incorporation of P from soils. Plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in acidic soil had significantly increased shoot and root biomass, leaf area and height, in comparison to the biomass of P-fertilized plants and nonmycorrhizal plants. In neutral soil, seedlings of C. minor and C. multiflora were negatively affected by inoculation with AMF. In contrast, a significant decrease in growth was observed when inoculated plants were compared with noninoculated plants on neutral soil. Results indicate that an increase in the availability of a limiting nutrient (P) can Communicated by E. Hansen A. Cáceres ( ) turn a balanced mutualistic relationship into a less balanced nonmutualistic one.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation improves Albizia saman and Paraserianthes falcataria growth in post-opencast coal mine field in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…On the other hand, contrasting responses to AM colonization were observed in Dicorynia guianensis and Eperua falcata (de Grandcourt et al, 2004). The response of C. minor and C. multiflora seedlings was dependent on the availability of soil P (Caceres and Cuenca, 2006). Besides AM fungi, ectomycorrhiza may form symbiosis with some Dipterocarpaceae and show improved plant growth under nursery condition in Kalimantan (Turjaman et al, 2005).…”

“…AM fungi increased seedling growth in 23 of 28 species from a lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica under nursery conditions (Janos, 1980). The inoculation of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) with AM fungi improved shoot growth compared with control seedlings under nursery conditions (Muthukumar et al, 2001) Clusia minor and Clusia multiflora inoculated with Scutellospora fulgida in acidic soil showed increases of shoot and root biomass, leaf area and plant height in comparison to P-fertilized plants and non-mycorrhizal plants (Caceres and Cuenca, 2006). Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings inoculated with Glomus geosporum exhibited improved growth, nutrient acquisition, and quality under nursery conditions (Muthukumar and Udaiyan, 2010).…”

Mycorrhizal Fungi: Use in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration

“…Clusia minor and Clusia multiflora inoculated with Scutellospora fulgida in acidic soil had greater shoot and root biomass, leaf area, and height in comparison to the biomass of P-fertilized plants and non-mycorrhizal plants (Cáceres and Cuenca 2006). Inoculation with the AM fungus Glomus geosporum improved the growth, nutrient acquisition, and seedling quality of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings under nursery conditions (Muthukumar and Udaiyan 2010).…”

Nutrient limitation of eco-physiological processes in tropical trees

“…The relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and soil nutrient availability is dynamic and complex. In one case, seedlings of Clusia minor and Clusia multiflora from P-limited montane forests in Miranda, Venezuela, produce greater root and shoot biomass, leaf area and height when inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi than when grown with P fertilizer (Caceres and Cuenca 2006). In another example, mycorrhizal formation on seedlings of D. lanceolata increased with combined addition of N, P and K in a nursery in Sarawak, Malaysia (Irino et al 2004).…”