Ectomycorrhizal diversity alters growth and nutrient acquisition of grey birch (Betula populifolia) seedlings in host–symbiont culture conditions

Abstract

Summary• The influence of ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity on plant performance was investigated by establishing a gradient of ectomycorrhizal diversity on Betula populifolia (grey birch) seedlings.• We measured growth, as well as N and P uptake, of individual B. populifolia seedlings inoculated with replicate one, two and four species 'communities' of ectomycorrhizal fungi simultaneously and without mycorrhizas in axenic culture.• Colonization of B. populifolia by individual species of ectomycorrhizal fungi decreased with increasing fungal diversity although total colonization increased. Shoot biomass decreased with increasing ectomycorrhizal diversity and mycorrhizal root biomass increased. Plant biomass did not differ with individual mycorrhizal species or composition. Shoot N concentration showed a small increase with increasing ectomycorrhizal diversity. Whole plant P content and concentration increased across the ectomycorrhizal diversity gradient. Despite higher mycorrhizal colonization rates with increasing fungal diversity, plant growth and nutrient responses were best explained by changes in ectomycorrhizal diversity.• Greater ectomycorrhizal diversity per se , rather than colonization or composition, increased mycorrhizal root biomass at the expense of shoot biomass and increased P uptake of B. populifolia seedlings.

Effect of maize and peanut crops on Ivory Coast northern soil biological activities and their response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation

“…The lowest values recorded following inoculation with the mixed treatment (Ge+Ga) compared to single treatments with Ga and Ge were found in maize in all parameters. These results corroborated with those of Baxter and Dighton (2001) who suggest that co-inoculation with endomycorrhizal fungal strains does not necessarily improve plant development parameters. The low rate of mycorrhization of AMF species observed can be attributed to antagonism between fungal strains, competition for nutrients such as carbohydrates and environmental conditions of the trial such as reduced growing substrate (nursery condition), temperature, soil pH, moisture content or phosphorus availability of the soil (Dalpé, 1997).…”

Comparison of root-associated communities of native and non-native ectomycorrhizal hosts in an urban landscape

“…Mycorrhizal fungi have diverse functions with a potential to facilitate nutrient uptake by accessing resources not readily available for the plants (Marschner and Dell 1994), improve drought tolerance (Lehto and Zwiazek 2011), increase disease resistance (Whipps 2004), and permit interplant transfer of nutrients through common mycelial networks (Simard and Durall 2004). EcM species differ in their functional attributes and physiological tolerances (Baxter and Dighton 2001;2005). Thus, greater diversity of root-associated symbionts should translate to more diverse benefits to the host, or alternatively, to greater flexibility under changing conditions (Druebert et al 2009;Pena et al 2010).…”

Effects of living crown reduction on needle element status of Scots pine

“…However, the differences in genetic properties of the trees and the species composition and diversity of the ectomycorrhizal associations may affect the foliar nutrition (Knight 1978, Schmidtling 1995, Baxter and Dighton 2001, Xu et al 2003, Kennedy et al 2007, Korkama-Rajala et al 2008). The selection mechanisms employed by Gremmeniella abietina in achieving successful infection of the trees are also variable, and the original foliar nutrient status of the unaffected control trees may have also been partly altered, especially in (I), over the years.…”