Additional AM Fungi Inoculation Increase Populus cathayana Intersexual Competition

This chapter discusses sex differences in intersexual competition and describes particularly the consequences of such competition for conflict between the sexes, as well as for sex differences in mate guarding and, relatedly, in the types of infidelity that evoke jealousy, including online infidelity. It also discusses individual differences in jealousy as related to attachment styles and describes the effects of height, hormones, and the menstrual cycle on jealousy. Next, the chapter moves on to intrasexual competition and discusses, among other topics, intrasexual competition among men and among women, the role of sex differences in rival characteristics in evoking jealousy, the role of attachment styles and hormones, and individual differences in intrasexual competitiveness.

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Tracking of Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticle Effects on Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Plant Growth, Pigments, Mineral Content and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10030583 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 583

Author(s):

Reda E. Abdelhameed ◽

Nagwa I. Abu-Elsaad ◽

Arafat Abdel Hamed Abdel Latef ◽

Rabab A. Metwally

Keyword(s):

Pisum Sativum ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Zinc Ferrite ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Nanocrystalline Structure ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Agricultural Applications ◽

The Impact

Important gaps in knowledge remain regarding the potential of nanoparticles (NPs) for plants, particularly the existence of helpful microorganisms, for instance, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi present in the soil. Hence, more profound studies are required to distinguish the impact of NPs on plant growth inoculated with AM fungi and their role in NP uptake to develop smart nanotechnology implementations in crop improvement. Zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) NPs are prepared via the citrate technique and defined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as transmission electron microscopy for several physical properties. The analysis of the XRD pattern confirmed the creation of a nanocrystalline structure with a crystallite size equal to 25.4 nm. The effects of ZnFe2O4 NP on AM fungi, growth and pigment content as well as nutrient uptake of pea (Pisum sativum) plants were assessed. ZnFe2O4 NP application caused a slight decrease in root colonization. However, its application showed an augmentation of 74.36% and 91.89% in AM pea plant shoots and roots’ fresh weights, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, the synthesized ZnFe2O4 NP uptake by plant roots and their contents were enhanced by AM fungi. These findings suggest the safe use of ZnFe2O4 NPs in nano-agricultural applications for plant development with AM fungi.

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Sex-specifically responsive strategies to phosphorus availability combined with different soil nitrogen forms in dioecious Populus cathayana

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtab025 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiucheng Liu ◽

Yuting Wang ◽

Shuangri Liu ◽

Miao Liu

Keyword(s):

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Specific Root Length ◽

P Uptake ◽

Root Tip ◽

P Availability ◽

P Deficiency ◽

Populus Cathayana ◽

Leaf P ◽

P Supply

Abstract Aims Phosphorus (P) availability and efficiency are especially important for plant growth and productivity. However, the sex-specific P acquisition and utilization strategies of dioecious plant species under different N forms are not clear. Methods This study investigated the responsive mechanisms of dioecious Populus cathayana females and males based on P uptake and allocation to soil P supply under N deficiency, nitrate (NO3 −) and ammonium (NH4 +) supply. Important Findings Females had a greater biomass, root length density (RLD), specific root length (SRL) and shoot P concentration than males under normal P availability with two N supplies. NH4 + supply led to higher total root length, RLD and SRL but lower root tip number than NO3 − supply under normal P supply. Under P deficiency, males showed a smaller root system but greater photosynthetic P availability and higher leaf P remobilization, exhibiting a better capacity to adaptation to P-deficiency than females. Under P deficiency, NO3 − supply increased leaf photosynthesis and PUE but reduced RLD and SRL in females while males had higher leaf P redistribution and photosynthetic PUE than NH4 + supply. Females had a better potentiality to cope with P deficiency under NO3 − supply than NH4 + supply; the contrary was true for males. These results suggest that females may devote to increase in P uptake and shoot P allocation under normal P availability, especially under NO3 − supply, while males adopt more efficient resource use and P remobilization to maximum their tolerance to P-deficiency.

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis facilitates apricot seedling (Prunus sibirica L.) growth and photosynthesis in northwest China

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology ◽

10.1007/s40789-021-00408-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yinli Bi ◽

Linlin Xie ◽

Zhigang Wang ◽

Kun Wang ◽

Wenwen Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Northwest China ◽

Shaanxi Province ◽

Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ◽

Seedling Physiology ◽

Grassland Ecosystems ◽

Time Period ◽

Seedling Biomass ◽

Experimental Treatments

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can successfully enhance photosynthesis (Pn) and plants growth in agricultural or grassland ecosystems. However, how the symbionts affect species restoration in sunlight-intensive areas remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this study’s objective was to assess the effect of AM fungi on apricot seedling physiology, within a specific time period, in northwest China. In 2010, an experimental field was established in Shaanxi Province, northwest China. The experimental treatments included two AM fungi inoculation levels (0 or 100 g of AM fungal inoculum per seedling), three shade levels (1900, 1100, and 550 µmol m−2 s−1), and three ages (1, 3, and 5 years) of transplantation. We examined growth, Pn, and morphological indicators of apricot (Prunus sibirica L.) seedling performances in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The colonization rate in mycorrhizal seedlings with similar amounts of shade is higher than the corresponding controls. The mycorrhizal seedling biomass is significantly higher than the corresponding non-mycorrhizal seedling biomass. Generally, Pn, stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), and water use efficiency are also significantly higher in the mycorrhizal seedlings. Moreover, mycorrhizal seedlings with light shade (LS) have the highest Pn. WUE is increased in non-mycorrhizal seedlings because of the reduction in Tr, while Tr is increased in mycorrhizal seedlings with shade. There is a significant increase in the N, P, and K fractions detected in roots compared with shoots. This means that LS had apparent benefits for mycorrhizal seedlings. Our results also indicate that AM fungi, combined with LS, exert a positive effect on apricot behavior.

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Extraction of short chain chitooligosaccharides from fungal biomass and their use as promoters of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83299-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Crosino ◽

Elisa Moscato ◽

Marco Blangetti ◽

Gennaro Carotenuto ◽

Federica Spina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fungal Biomass ◽

Large Scale ◽

Low Cost ◽

Trichoderma Viride ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Production Costs ◽

Short Chain ◽

Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ◽

Major Interest

AbstractShort chain chitooligosaccharides (COs) are chitin derivative molecules involved in plant-fungus signaling during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interactions. In host plants, COs activate a symbiotic signalling pathway that regulates AM-related gene expression. Furthermore, exogenous CO application was shown to promote AM establishment, with a major interest for agricultural applications of AM fungi as biofertilizers. Currently, the main source of commercial COs is from the shrimp processing industry, but purification costs and environmental concerns limit the convenience of this approach. In an attempt to find a low cost and low impact alternative, this work aimed to isolate, characterize and test the bioactivity of COs from selected strains of phylogenetically distant filamentous fungi: Pleurotus ostreatus, Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Trichoderma viride. Our optimized protocol successfully isolated short chain COs from lyophilized fungal biomass. Fungal COs were more acetylated and displayed a higher biological activity compared to shrimp-derived COs, a feature that—alongside low production costs—opens promising perspectives for the large scale use of COs in agriculture.

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Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in the Soils of Desert Habitats

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020229 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 229

Author(s):

Martti Vasar ◽

John Davison ◽

Siim-Kaarel Sepp ◽

Maarja Öpik ◽

Mari Moora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Root ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Illumina Miseq ◽

Desert Ecosystems ◽

Fungal Dna ◽

Root Symbionts ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal

Deserts cover a significant proportion of the Earth’s surface and continue to expand as a consequence of climate change. Mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are functionally important plant root symbionts, and may be particularly important in drought stressed systems such as deserts. Here we provide a first molecular characterization of the AM fungi occurring in several desert ecosystems worldwide. We sequenced AM fungal DNA from soil samples collected from deserts in six different regions of the globe using the primer pair WANDA-AML2 with Illumina MiSeq. We recorded altogether 50 AM fungal phylotypes. Glomeraceae was the most common family, while Claroideoglomeraceae, Diversisporaceae and Acaulosporaceae were represented with lower frequency and abundance. The most diverse site, with 35 virtual taxa (VT), was in the Israeli Negev desert. Sites representing harsh conditions yielded relatively few reads and low richness estimates, for example, a Saudi Arabian desert site where only three Diversispora VT were recorded. The AM fungal taxa recorded in the desert soils are mostly geographically and ecologically widespread. However, in four sites out of six, communities comprised more desert-affiliated taxa (according to the MaarjAM database) than expected at random. AM fungal VT present in samples were phylogenetically clustered compared with the global taxon pool, suggesting that nonrandom assembly processes, notably habitat filtering, may have shaped desert fungal assemblages.

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LysM Receptor-Like Kinase LYK9 of Pisum Sativum L. May Regulate Plant Responses to Chitooligosaccharides Differing in Structure

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22020711 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 711

Author(s):

Irina V. Leppyanen ◽

Olga A. Pavlova ◽

Maria A. Vashurina ◽

Andrey D. Bovin ◽

Alexandra V. Dolgikh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Pisum Sativum ◽

Binding Capacity ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽

Plant Responses ◽

Pisum Sativum L ◽

Receptor Like Kinase ◽

Pea Mutants

This study focused on the interactions of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants with phytopathogenic and beneficial fungi. Here, we examined whether the lysin-motif (LysM) receptor-like kinase PsLYK9 is directly involved in the perception of long- and short-chain chitooligosaccharides (COs) released after hydrolysis of the cell walls of phytopathogenic fungi and identified in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal exudates. The identification and analysis of pea mutants impaired in the lyk9 gene confirmed the involvement of PsLYK9 in symbiosis development with AM fungi. Additionally, PsLYK9 regulated the immune response and resistance to phytopathogenic fungi, suggesting its bifunctional role. The existence of co-receptors may provide explanations for the potential dual role of PsLYK9 in the regulation of interactions with pathogenic and AM fungi. Co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed that PsLYK9 and two proposed co-receptors, PsLYR4 and PsLYR3, can form complexes. Analysis of binding capacity showed that PsLYK9 and PsLYR4, synthesized as extracellular domains in insect cells, were able to bind the deacetylated (DA) oligomers CO5-DA–CO8-DA. Our results suggest that the receptor complex consisting of PsLYK9 and PsLYR4 can trigger a signal pathway that stimulates the immune response in peas. However, PsLYR3 seems not to be involved in the perception of CO4-5, as a possible co-receptor of PsLYK9.

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Target of rapamycin, PvTOR, is a key regulator of arbuscule development during mycorrhizal symbiosis in Phaseolus

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90288-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manoj-Kumar Arthikala ◽

Kalpana Nanjareddy ◽

Lourdes Blanco ◽

Xóchitl Alvarado-Affantranger ◽

Miguel Lara

Keyword(s):

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Target Of Rapamycin ◽

Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ◽

Energy Status ◽

Symbiotic Associations ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Fungal Symbiosis ◽

Am Fungus ◽

Am Symbiosis

AbstractTarget of rapamycin (TOR) is a conserved central growth regulator in eukaryotes that has a key role in maintaining cellular nutrient and energy status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are mutualistic symbionts that assist the plant in increasing nutrient absorption from the rhizosphere. However, the role of legume TOR in AM fungal symbiosis development has not been investigated. In this study, we examined the function of legume TOR in the development and formation of AM fungal symbiosis. RNA-interference-mediated knockdown of TOR transcripts in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) hairy roots notably suppressed AM fungus-induced lateral root formation by altering the expression of root meristem regulatory genes, i.e., UPB1, RGFs, and sulfur assimilation and S-phase genes. Mycorrhized PvTOR-knockdown roots had significantly more extraradical hyphae and hyphopodia than the control (empty vector) roots. Strong promoter activity of PvTOR was observed at the site of hyphal penetration and colonization. Colonization along the root length was affected in mycorrhized PvTOR-knockdown roots and the arbuscules were stunted. Furthermore, the expression of genes induced by AM symbiosis such as SWEET1, VPY, VAMP713, and STR was repressed under mycorrhized conditions in PvTOR-knockdown roots. Based on these observations, we conclude that PvTOR is a key player in regulating arbuscule development during AM symbiosis in P. vulgaris. These results provide insight into legume TOR as a potential regulatory factor influencing the symbiotic associations of P. vulgaris and other legumes.

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