Experimental assessment of forest floor geophyte and hemicryptophyte impact on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities

Abstract

Purpose Herbaceous plants are important components of temperate forest structure and its functioning, however, their impacts on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) remain largely unexplored. We studied the influence of forest herbaceous plant species on AMF abundance, morphospecies richness, and community composition in soil. Methods We tested the influence of plant species identity in an outdoor mesocosm experiment, using two soils, differing in physicochemical properties, planted with four plant species of contrasting traits related to morphology, phenology, reproduction, and ecology; the hemicryptophyte, summer-green Aegopodium podagraria, and spring ephemeral geophytes comprising Allium ursinum, Anemone nemorosa, and Ficaria verna. The plants were grown on both soils in four monocultures, in a combination of A. podagraria and A. ursinum, and a mixture of all four species. Results Aegopodium podagraria and A. ursinum promoted AMF abundance and diversity the most. Higher AMF root colonization and/or soil concentrations of AMF structural and storage markers 16:1ω5 PLFA and NLFA, as well as higher AMF spore and morphospecies numbers were found in the A. podagraria and A. ursinum monocultures and mixture. The short period of photosynthetic activity of A. ursinum due to rapid leaf decay does not negatively affect the symbiosis with AMF. Although A. nemorosa and F. verna are mycorrhizal, their effect on AMF in soil was weak. Conclusions The plant impact on AMF may be related to the differences in plant coverage and the character of their interactions with AMF. The herbaceous plants can form niches in soil differing in AMF abundance and diversity.

What Do Cross-Range Germination, Growth, and Interaction Studies Reveal about the Behaviour of an Expansive Plant Species?

“…The development of A. ursinum mycorrhiza was found to be inversely proportional and dynamically variable over time when compared to the nutrient-supplying capacity of the plant's soil [97]. Additionally, in closed stands, the soils (i.e., habitat type), light availability, and the dominance of A. ursinum also had a significant effect on the diversity and abundance of root mycorrhiza [90,98,99]. The decomposition of A. ursinum leaves results in a substantial nitrogen surplus [100], thereby contributing to the enhancement of soil nutrient levels [101,102], with microbial activity playing a pivotal role as the primary catalyst [103].…”

“…The soil was collected in plastic bags at a 5-10 cm depth of 0.5 m 2 . After large debris and litter removal, samples were stored at ~10 • C until the experimental setup [90]. Collected soil types are brown forest soils with clay illuviation (Luvisoils).…”

Symbiosis—A Perspective on the Effects of Host Traits and Environmental Parameters in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Richness, Colonization and Ecological Functions

“…However, AMF species richness is unaffected by plants' phenology [138], and this is due to the presence of roots throughout the growing season in the soil despite the absence of leaves and photosynthesis activities. Herbaceous plants, the ephemeral ones, have the tendency for quick growth, nutrient assimilation, storage of carbohydrates in their roots and dying off within a short period of time [139,140].…”