Contrasting rhizosphere soil nutrient economy of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in karst forests

Abstract

Purpose Plants growing in the soils of karst forests associate with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) or ectomycorrhizae (ECM) to acquire nutrients. We researched how these different mycorrhizal associations affect rhizosphere soil nutrient economy in these calcareous soils.Methods Bulk and rhizosphere soils were sampled beneath 25 AM and 9 ECM plants growing in primary forests at the Puding Karst Critical Zone Observatory. Nutrient contents and potential enzyme activities were analyzed to test the effect of different types of mycorrhizal association on rhizosphere soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) economies. ResultsThe contents of nitrate-N and available-P were markedly lower in the rhizospheres of ECM plants compared to AM plants. Ectomycorrhizal plants promoted relatively greater investment in N-acquisition enzymes, in contrast, AM plants caused relatively greater investment in P-acquisition enzymes. The decreased pH in the rhizospheres of AM plants likely promoted the greater P availability. ConclusionOur results revealed how plants that form contrasting mycorrhizal associations have fundamentally different effects on rhizospheric nutrient economies in the low fertility karst soils of southwest China. Differentiation in N-and Pacquisition capacity of these plants have implications for species coexistence and the high levels of plant biodiversity observed in these forests.

Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Associated With Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Were Altered by Soil Environments With Aging Plantation in a Semi-arid Desert

“…They were the most important enzymes for soil fertility and nitrogen metabolism. ECM fungi have different preferences and demands for nutrient strategies, and the nutrient competition in fungal communities alters the assembly of the EcM fungal communities (Yang et al, 2021). EcM fungi-induced soil nutrient cycling substantially contributes to the growth and health of host plants.…”

Mixed conifer-broadleaf trees on arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal communities in rhizosphere soil of different plantation stands in the temperate zone, Northeast China

“…Root samples were rinsed by deionized water, the living roots were selected and fixed in formalin-aceto-alcohol (FAA, 90 ml of 70% alcohol, 5 ml of 38% formaldehyde and 5 ml of glacial acetic acid) solution for subsequent determination of mycorrhizal colonization rate ( Yang et al, 2021b ). Soil samples were sieved with a 2-mm mesh to remove roots and litter.…”

The characters of root-derived fungi from Gentiana scabra Bunge and the relations with their habitats

“…Next, plant roots with attached soil were randomly sampled at above ve plots from a depth of 0-20 cm to make one mixture sample (Schmidt et al 2019;Zhang et al 2021). Fresh samples were placed on ice and immediately transported to the laboratory where rhizospheric soil samples were collected from the soil adhering to the root crowns, and then passed through a 2 mm sieve and then homogenized (Yang et al 2021). Moreover, the rhizospheric soil that was used for DNA extraction was freeze-dried and then stored at -80℃, while the soil that was used to determine the physicochemical properties was naturally air-dried.…”