Mycorrhizal symbiosis promotes the nutrient content accumulation and affects the root exudates in maize

Abstract

Background Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a group of important symbiotic microorganisms found in ecosystems. Maize is the second most produced food crop globally. To investigate the mechanisms by which mycorrhizal symbiosis improves maize yields, the effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on root vigor, nutrient accumulation in various tissues, and root exudates were investigated. We propose the following hypothesis: The secretion of organic acids in root exudates has antagonistic or synergistic effects, which are related to the rhizosphere environment. AMF symbiosis will enhance this effect. Result Rhizophagus aggreatus, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Funneliformis mosseae were used to inoculate maize plants separately; meanwhile, maize was inoculated with the above three fungi together for another processing. The plant tissues were sampled at five growth stages: V12 (twelve-leaf), VT (Tassel), R1 (Silking), R2 (Blister), and R4 (Dough stage). The root vigor, and nutrient content in different maize organs and organic acids in root exudates were determined in these stages. The results show that mycorrhizal symbiosis significantly improved the root vigor of maize, especially for plants inoculated with F. mosseae. AMF symbiosis significantly increased N, P, and K accumulation. Mixed inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly promoted the accumulation of N and K in maize. P accumulation was significantly promoted by C. etunicatum inoculation. Mycorrhizal symbiosis reduced the levels of protocatechuic, vanillic, citric, and ferulic acid in maize root exudates and increased the levels of p-hydroxybenzoic and caffeic acid. Except for syringic, chlorogenic and succinic acid, the levels of other organic acids in root exudates were higher in plants inoculated with F. mosseae than in other treatments. Conclusion This study demonstrates that mycorrhizal symbiosis improves root vigor and promotes nutrient accumulation at various sites; in addition, mycorrhizal symbiosis affects the content of organic acids in root exudates.

AMF colonization affects allelopathic effects of Zea mays L. root exudates and community structure of rhizosphere bacteria

“…Isolation, concentration, and determination of maize root exudates were performed by reference to Ma ( Ma et al., 2022 ). Briefly, the maize was carefully removed from the pots, cleaned of impurities on the surface of the net root system, and then transferred to a 2 L beaker after rinsing three times with sterile water.…”

“…AMF colonization can induce changes in host root exudates ( Ma et al., 2022 ), Zhang’s research found that AMF colonization can affect the level of phenolic acids in cotton root exudates, thereby reducing the incidence rate of Cotton Fusarium Wilt ( Zhang et al., 2012 ). After AMF colonization, it can limit the movement of nematodes and alleviate the invasion of nematodes to tomatoes by affecting the release of root exudates ( Yizhu et al., 2020 ).…”

Journal of Water and Land Development

“…For example, maize, wheat, and soybean plants produced more organic acids under saline conditions. In addition, AMF supported enhanced betaine biosynthesis, demonstrating that AMF indirectly functions in plant osmoregulation when plants are stressed by salinity [MA et al 2022].…”

A response of biomass and nutrient allocation to the combined effects of soil nutrient, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and root-knot nematode in cherry tomato

“…We also found that AMF symbiosis had positive effects on N concentration and aboveground P concentration of cherry tomato, but had negative effects on belowground P concentration, and it is worth noting that these effects varied with AMF species (Figures 3, 5). Although some studies suggested that AMF colonization is beneficial to the uptake of N and P by host plants (Gojon, 2022;Ma et al, 2022), AMF may also cause damage to host plant growth and development by reducing P uptake (Smith et al, 2004). The benefits of AMF symbiosis on nutrient uptake may be influenced by soil nutrient availability and other factors individually or in combination.…”