scholarly journals Mycorrhizae: a key interaction for conservation of two endangered Magnolias from Andean forests

2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Marcela Serna-González ◽  
Ligia E. Urrego-Giraldo ◽  
Nelson Walter Osorio ◽  
Diego Valencia-Ríos

Background and aims – Magnolia species are highly endangered in neotropical forests where they are highly endemic and often very rare. However, little is known about their nutritional and soil conditions in natural forests. In this study, we focused on two endangered Magnolia species that cohabit in the Colombian Andean cloud forests in order to identify their conservation and nutritional status. We hypothesize that these species might exhibit mycorrhizal colonization that enhance nutrients uptake in poor and disturbed soils. Methods – Individuals of Magnolia jardinensis and M. yarumalensis were assessed in 11 000 m2 of Andean forests remnants from Jardín municipality (Antioquia, Colombia). Foliar and soil samples were analysed in the lab. Through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) we identified the relationship between soil conditions and foliar nutrition. Root fragments and rhizosphere samples from seedlings and juveniles up to 3 m tall were collected to verify mycorrhizal colonization and presence of other microorganisms. Adults were excluded of the sampling due to the difficulties to differentiate their roots among the rest of the species in the forest fragments. Key results – The surveys show that the M. yarumalensis population has an inverted J-shaped diametric distribution suggesting a potential recovering population while the smaller overall distribution of M. jardinensis in all diametric categories suggests that this species is likely to become extinct. Both species grow in acidic, infertile soils, although foliar nutrient concentrations did not correlate with soil-nutrient availability. Such a discrepancy and the high colonization levels of mycorrhizae (60–70%) and dark septate endophytes (40–45%), suggest that plant-microorganisms may facilitate nutrition and enhance survival of Magnolia species in stressed environments. Other fungi and bacteria were also found in their rhizosphere, but their role with respect to Magnolia species remains unclear.Conclusions - Mycorrhizal colonization of endangered Magnolia species seems to play a key role to their performance in natural disturbed Andean forests. Aspects related to soil and rhizosphere ecology should be included in conservation projects for endangered and endemic plants.

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Slesak ◽  
Russell D. Briggs

Abstract Fertilization in Christmas tree production is common to increase tree growth and quality, with many recommendations focusing on N as a primary amendment. However, other nutrients may limit growth, or N application may induce deficiency of other nutrients. We applied fertilizer as either ammonium nitrate (AN) or chicken manure compost (CMC) to concolor fir (Abies concolor [Gord. and Glend.] Lindl.) at eight sites across central New York in 2003 and measured foliar mass and macronutrient response (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) to assess the potential for an inducible nutrient deficiency or nutrient limitation other than N. Foliage mass, N concentration, and N content increased following both fertilizer treatments, indicating that N limits growth at these sites. Macronutrient (P, K, Mg, Ca) concentrations were reduced following AN application because of nutrient dilution following increased growth. Compared with published sufficiency nutrient concentrations, concentrations of P and K were diluted to levels considered limiting to growth. In contrast, there was no reduction in macronutrient concentrations for P, Ca, and Mg in the CMC application, indicating the potential for this amendment to maintain balanced tree nutrition with increased growth. Foliar K content was increased in the CMC treatment, and needle mass (as the primary growth response variable), was correlated with foliar K concentration (r2 = 0.71, P < 0.01). The results indicate a strong possibility of K limitation in concolor fir across a variety of site conditions. With few exceptions, there were no apparent relationships between soil nutrient pools and foliar nutrition, demonstrating the limitation of soil tests as a guide to nutrient amendments.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2412-2425 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H Miller ◽  
H Lee Allen ◽  
Bruce R Zutter ◽  
Shepard M Zedaker ◽  
Ray A Newbold

Influences of competition-control treatments on long-term soil and foliar nutrition were examined using a regional data set (the Competition Omission Monitoring Project) that documents loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation development for 15 years after early intensive woody and (or) herbaceous control. Examined were trends for macro nutrients in soils sampled at years 0 and 15 and in pine foliage at years 2, 6, and 15 and their correlations with one another and with pine growth. Early control treatments resulted in distinct plantation successional patterns with contrasting herbaceous and woody components, all under pine-dominated canopies. There was an overall decrease in soil nutrient concentrations after 15 years of pine-plantation management, while C, N, and Ca decreased most after vegetation control. Early herbaceous treatments resulted in significantly less foliar N and K at year 15 as well. Foliar nutrient contents and fascicle mass at year 2 tended to be better correlated with year-15 pine volume than values at year 6 or year 15. Year-15 P concentrations had the strongest correlations between soil and foliar nutrient levels (r = 0.71–0.77). By year 15, intensive pine culture and vegetation control had placed demands on soil nutrient supplies to support enhanced growth that have not yet been replaced.


Author(s):  
Danilo S. Teixeira ◽  
Andreia A. Rezende ◽  
Luciola S. Lannes

ABSTRACT Cerrado is the second largest biome in Brazil and is classified as a biodiversity hotspot. The establishment of hydroelectric power stations in Brazil originated degraded areas due to the removal of soil for construction of dams, in which native vegetation sometimes fails to reestablish due to the bad soil conditions. Sheep excrete most of the nutrients they ingest, such as phosphorus, calcium, potassium and nitrogen. This study aimed at investigating whether sheep dung contributes to the improvement of soil quality and stimulates the process of ecological succession in areas affected by the construction of the hydroelectric power station of Ilha Solteira. Four areas were selected, located at the Experimental Farm of Unesp Ilha Solteira/SP, and ten plots of 1 m2 each were established. From October 2014 to December 2015, five replicates received 150 g fresh sheep dung every 15 days. In December 2015 soil sample from top 0.10 m was collected for the determination of soil attributes. Aboveground biomass was also collected, separated into four functional groups, oven-dried and weighed. Data were analysed to check the effect of dung addition upon soil and vegetation variables. Dung addition stimulated the development of several functional groups and changed soil nutrient concentrations in all four studied areas.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Eric Wiseman ◽  
Kristen H. Colvin ◽  
Christina E. Wells

Abstract Commercial products containing propagules of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely marketed to improve woody plant performance in the landscape. However, the infectivity of these products has rarely been subjected to independent testing. We evaluated commercial AMF inoculants in a series of greenhouse experiments using corn (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), trident maple (Acer buergerianum), and sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) as host plants. In corn and sorghum, colonization rarely exceeded 5% when plants were treated with commercial inoculants. In contrast, viable lab-cultured inoculant of similar species composition yielded mean colonization percentages of 38 to 61%. Despite the near absence of colonization, commercial inoculants generally improved shoot growth and increased soil nutrient concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Commercial inoculants had no effect on mycorrhizal colonization or shoot growth of trident maple or sweetbay magnolia liners. Product-treated magnolias grown from seed also developed little or no mycorrhizal colonization, whereas plants treated with a lab-cultured inoculant were 74% colonized. If commercial AMF inoculants are to receive broad acceptance as landscape soil amendments, manufacturers must demonstrate that their products can promote mycorrhizal colonization under the conditions of their intended distribution and use.


2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 1855-1870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Rothe ◽  
Dan Binkley

For more than a century, scientists have considered whether mixtures of tree species may differ in nutrition and yield relative to monocultures. We review the empirical evidence on the nutritional interactions of tree species in mixtures, including information on foliar nutrition, soil nutrient supply, rates of nutrient input, and patterns of root distribution. Linear effects were most common, with mixtures intermediate in value between monocultures. In some cases, values for mixtures were lower than expected, indicating an antagonistic interaction. A few cases that included nitrogen- fixing species showed a synergistic interaction, with mixtures showing higher values than monocultures. Nutrient concentrations in foliage of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière) were improved in mixtures with other conifers in three studies, in contrast to four studies with mixtures of various conifers and hardwoods that showed no effect of mixtures on foliage nutrient concentrations. Mixtures that combine species with and without the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen have shown a full range of foliar responses from decreases to increases in phosphorus, to increases in nitrogen, to no effect of mixtures. Rates of litter decomposition usually showed no effect of species mixtures, but a few cases demonstrated both increases and decreases in decomposition relative to monocultures. Pools of soil nutrients generally did not differ between mixtures and monocultures. Root distributions in mixtures of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were altered in mixtures; compared with monocultures, spruce rooted more shallowly in mixtures with beech, and beech rooted more deeply in mixtures with spruce. General conclusions are limited by the small number of studies that directly addressed mixed-species effects in forests, and the wide variety of observed interactions. Further research would be particularly helpful in identifying situations where nonlinear interactions may develop, including the species and site conditions that promote nonlinear interactions. Neighborhood methods, which analyze the relationship between stand composition and nutritional properties on a small spatial scale, offer great potential for exploring nutritional effects in mixed-species stands.


2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
X.-Y. Li ◽  
P.-P. Fan ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
G.-L. Hou ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuta Takahashi ◽  
Kaori Shiojiri ◽  
Akira Yamawo

AbstractAboveground communication between plants is well known to change defense traits in leaves, but its effects on belowground plant traits and soil characteristics have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis via induction of bactericidal chemical defense substances and changes the soil nutrient environment. Soybean plants were exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from damaged shoots of Solidago canadensis var. scabra, and leaf defense traits (total phenolics, saponins), root saponins, and root nodule symbiosis traits (number and biomass of root nodules) were measured. Soil C/N ratios and mineral concentrations were also measured to estimate the effects of resource uptake by the plants. We found that total phenolics were not affected. However, plants that received VOCs had higher saponin concentrations in both leaves and roots, and fewer root nodules than untreated plants. Although the concentrations of soil minerals did not differ between treatments, soil C/N ratio was significantly higher in the soil of communicated plants. Thus, the aboveground plant-to-plant communication led to reductions in root nodule symbiosis and soil nutrient concentrations. Our results suggest that there are broader effects of induced chemical defenses in aboveground plant organs upon belowground microbial interactions and soil nutrients, and emphasize that plant response based on plant-to-plant communications are a bridge between above- and below-ground ecosystems.


2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir G. Onipchenko ◽  
Mikhail I. Makarov ◽  
Eddy van der Maarel

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