scholarly journals Hemiparasitic plants increase alpine plant richness and evenness but reduce arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization in dominant plant species

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McKibben ◽  
Jeremiah A. Henning
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽  
Fungal Colonization ◽  
Plant Richness ◽  
Hemiparasitic Plants ◽  
Dominant Plant Species

Hemiparasitic plants increase plant biodiversity by reducing the abundance of dominant plant species, allowing for the establishment of subordinate species. Hemiparasites reduce host resources by directly removing nutrients from hosts, competing for light and space, and may indirectly reduce host resources by disrupting plant associations with symbiotic root fungi, like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark-septate endophytes. Here, we explored how a generalist hemiparasite, Castilleja, influences plant richness, evenness, community composition, and mycorrhizal colonization patterns across a ∼1,000 m elevational gradient in the North American Rocky Mountains. We hypothesized that the presence of Castilleja would be associated with increased plant richness and evenness, shaping plant community composition, and would reduce mycorrhizal colonization within dominant plant taxa. However, the magnitude of the effects would be contingent upon climate contexts, that is, elevation. Overall, we found that the presence of Castilleja was associated with an 11% increase in plant richness and a 5% increase in plant evenness, regardless of elevation. However, we found that the presence of Castilleja influenced plant composition at only two of the five sites and at the remaining three of five sites, plot pairing was the only predictor that influenced composition. Additionally, we found that the presence of Castilleja reduced mycorrhizal fungal colonization within dominant plant species by ∼20%, regardless of elevation. Taken together, our results suggest that hemiparasites regulate plant diversity, evenness, and interactions with mycorrhizal fungi independent of abiotic and biotic contexts occurring at the site, although overall effect on community composition is likely driven by site-level factors.

scholarly journals Is the Age of Novel Ecosystem the Factor Driving Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization in Poa compressa and Calamagrostis epigejos?

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 949
Author(s):  
Gabriela Woźniak ◽  
Damian Chmura ◽  
Eugeniusz Małkowski ◽  
Paulina Zieleźnik-Rusinowska ◽  
Krzysztof Sitko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Magnesium Content ◽  
Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Novel Ecosystem ◽  
Dominant Plant Species ◽  
Calamagrostis Epigejos

Some sites transformed or created by humans (novel ecosystem) are different both in vegetation and ecosystems establishment and development. The unknown habitat conditions and new species composition is resulting in new abiotic and biotic systems. To improve the understanding of the process governing the relationships between the environmental factors, plant species assemblages and their arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation were studied in chronosequence on post-coal mine heaps. We hypothesized that AMF root colonization will be dependent on the age of heap and not on the dominant plant species (vegetation type). The high frequency of mycorrhizal colonization of roots (F%) of Poa compressa- and Calamagrostis epigejos-dominated vegetation type was stated. All mycorrhizal parameters were lower in C. epigejos roots when compared to P. compressa (ranging from 60% to 90%). The highest relative mycorrhizal intensity, M%, and mean abundance of arbuscula, A%, in the roots of both examined plants were recorded in vegetation patches dominated by Daucus carota. Positive and statistically significant correlations were found between F%, M%, and A%, and lack of correlation between the heaps’ age and mycorrhizal parameters, and statistically significant correlations between A% and potassium and magnesium content were revealed. The interspecific relations in the novel ecosystems become more complex along with the increase of diversity.

scholarly journals Exploring plant root-fungal interactions in a neotropical freshwater wetland

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-674
Author(s):  
Jazmín Santillán-Manjarrez ◽  
A. Penelope Solis-Hernández ◽  
Patricia Castilla-Hernández ◽  
Ignacio E. Maldonado-Mendoza ◽  
Gilberto Vela-Correa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Root Colonization ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Freshwater Wetland ◽  
Fungal Colonization ◽  
Dark Septate Endophyte ◽  
Dry Conditions

Background: Wetlands in Neotropics harbor high fungal diversity, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE). This study describes the interaction of plant roots with AMF and DSE in a freshwater wetland belonging to a hotspot of biodiversity.Hypothesis: Differential root colonization between arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi is influenced by plant species and abiotic conditions in a freshwater wetland.  Studied species: Plant species colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi.Methods: Properties of soils and the water column, floristic composition, root colonization by AMF and DSE, and molecular identification of AMF inside roots were studied.Results: Soils were Gleysol and flooded during the rainy season. Most of identified plant species were herbaceous, with Cyperus articulatus and Mimosa pigra as the dominant species. Seven of 8 analyzed plant species exhibited differential co-colonization between AMF and DSE. Repeated sampling for one year under flooding/dry conditions demonstrated that C. articulatus and M. pigra were mainly associated with DSE and AMF, respectively. A positive correlation between dissolved O2 in the water column and fungal colonization was observed in C. articulatus. Glomerales and Archaeosporales were molecularly identified inside roots containing arbuscules of M. pigra.Conclusions: Findings highlight differential coexistence between AMF and DSE in plant roots; fungal colonization was influenced by flooding/dry conditions in a neotropical wetland; the community of AMF inside arbusculated roots of M. pigra includes at least four clades.

scholarly journals Nonlegumes, Legumes, and Root Nodules Harbor Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 6240-6246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja R. Scheublin ◽  
Karyn P. Ridgway ◽  
J. Peter W. Young ◽  
Marcel G. A. van der Heijden
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Direct Sequencing ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Sequence Type ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Amf Communities

ABSTRACT Legumes are an important plant functional group since they can form a tripartite symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria and phosphorus-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, not much is known about AMF community composition in legumes and their root nodules. In this study, we analyzed the AMF community composition in the roots of three nonlegumes and in the roots and root nodules of three legumes growing in a natural dune grassland. We amplified a portion of the small-subunit ribosomal DNA and analyzed it by using restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct sequencing. We found differences in AMF communities between legumes and nonlegumes and between legume roots and root nodules. Different plant species also contained different AMF communities, with different AMF diversity. One AMF sequence type was much more abundant in legumes than in nonlegumes (39 and 13%, respectively). Root nodules contained characteristic AMF communities that were different from those in legume roots, even though the communities were similar in nodules from different legume species. One AMF sequence type was found almost exclusively in root nodules. Legumes and root nodules have relatively high nitrogen concentrations and high phosphorus demands. Accordingly, the presence of legume- and nodule-related AMF can be explained by the specific nutritional requirements of legumes or by host-specific interactions among legumes, root nodules, and AMF. In summary, we found that AMF communities vary between plant functional groups (legumes and nonlegumes), between plant species, and between parts of a root system (roots and root nodules).

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