Stunted cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fully recovers biomass and yield of seed cotton after delayed root inoculation with spores of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae)

In the northern grain and cotton region of Australia, poor crop growth after long periods of fallow, called 'long-fallow' disorder, is caused by a decline of natural arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). When cotton was grown in large pots containing 22 kg of Vertisol from a field recently harvested from cotton in Central Queensland, plants in pasteurised soil were extremely stunted compared with plants in unpasteurised soil. We tested the hypothesis that this extreme stunting was caused by the absence of AMF and examined whether such stunted plants could recover from subsequent treatment with AMF spores and/or P fertiliser. At 42 days after sowing, the healthy cotton growing in unpasteurised soil had 48% of its root-length colonised with AMF, whereas the stunted cotton had none. After inoculation with AMF spores (6 spores/g soil of Glomus mosseae) and/or application of P fertiliser (50 mg P/kg soil) at 45 days after sowing, the stunted plants commenced to improve about 25 days after treatment, and continued until their total dry matter and seed cotton production equalled that of plants growing in unpasteurised soil with natural AMF. In contrast, non-mycorrhizal cotton grown without P fertiliser remained stunted throughout and produced no bolls and only 1% of the biomass of mycorrhizal cotton. Even with the addition of P fertiliser, non-mycorrhizal cotton produced only 64% of the biomass and 58% of the seed cotton (lint + seed) of mycorrhizal cotton plants. These results show that cotton is highly dependent on AMF for P nutrition and growth in Vertisol (even with high rates of P fertiliser), but can recover from complete lack of AMF and consequent stunting during at least the first 45 days of growth when treated with AMF spores and/or P fertiliser. This corroborates field observations in the northern region that cotton may recover from long-fallow disorder caused by low initial levels of AMF propagules in the soil as the AMF colonisation of its roots increases during the growing season.

丛枝菌根真菌对异质性环境中克隆植物的影响

克隆植物同一基株的相连克隆分株或克隆片段常常生长在资源条件不同的斑块中，分株间形成克隆整合和克隆可塑性以及克隆分工等有效地获取必需资源的生态适应对策，提高在异质性斑块生境中的适合度，适应环境的异质性变化。但在以往的克隆植物生态学的理论研究中，为了研究的简化和方便，往往忽略了土壤中微生物的作用。丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza, AM)真菌是自然界中广泛存在的土壤微生物之一，可与大多数的高等植物形成共生菌根，影响植物的生长、发育及其在生态系统中的作用。 本文应用实验生态学方法，以蛇莓、狗牙根和白三叶为研究对象，在温室受控条件下，对异质养分斑块中的分株对接种AM真菌，探讨AM真菌对资源斑块中克隆植物的影响。 第一个实验设计单一磷养分斑块，以蛇莓(Duchesnea indica)和摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)为研究对象，探讨丛枝AM真菌对克隆整合的影响。将蛇莓相连的两个分株，即分株对，分别种植在两个隔离的花盆中，各施以高磷和低磷营养液，保持或切断分株间匍匐茎连接，即间隔子，再将菌剂接种到低磷斑块中分株。结果发现间隔子状态和接菌处理都显著影响低磷斑块中蛇莓分株的根系生物量分配。对照处理中保持间隔子连接显著减少低磷斑块中分株生物量向根系的分配，接菌后这一差异显著减小。保持间隔子连接或接菌对高磷斑块中分株的根系生物量分配不显著。保持间隔子连接和接菌都显著增加低磷斑块分株的生物量在分株对生物量中所占比例，二者无显著交互作用。 第二个实验设计光照和养分斑块，以狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)和摩西球囊霉为研究对象，探讨AM真菌对克隆植物非局域反应的影响。将狗牙根分株对的两个分株分别种植在两个花盆中，各施以光照强度与土壤养分交互斑块性环境条件，形成高养低光和高光低养斑块，保持或切断间隔子，再将菌剂接种到目标分株。结果发现对照处理中，间隔子状态显著影响分株的局域反应。高养斑块中保持间隔子连接的分株的根长显著大于间隔子断裂的分株的根长，高光斑块中保持间隔子连接的分株的根长显著小于间隔子断裂的分株的根长。高光斑块中保持间隔子连接的分株的叶面积显著大于间隔子断裂的分株的叶面积，间隔子状态对低光高养斑块分株的叶面积无显著影响。在低光高养斑块中，相对于间隔子断裂的分株，间隔子连接的分株将更多的生物量分配到根系，而在高光斑块中的分株则相反。这些都说明，无AM真菌侵染的情况下，狗牙根分株对的两个分株在实验中各自形成的克隆部分的分株形态反应都受到了克隆整合的作用，表现为非局域反应。接种AM真菌后，高光斑块中分株的根长和高养斑块中分株的叶面积在间隔子连接和断裂处理之间的差异显著减小。生物量分配的差异不受接菌的影响。对照处理中，高养斑块中间隔子连接的分株生物量和分株数显著高于间隔子断裂的分株，但高光斑块中分株之间无显著差异。接种AM真菌显著降低高养斑块中分株的生物量和分株数，对高光斑块中分株无显著影响。 第三个实验设计光照和养分交互斑块，以白三叶(Trifolium repens)和多种AM真菌为研究对象，探讨AM真菌及其多样性对克隆分工的影响。将间隔子连接(整合)或断裂(无整合)的白三叶分株对种植于光照强度和土壤养分交互斑块性资源条件下(即，高光低养和低光高养)，向分株对接种灭菌处理、单种或五种AM真菌的菌剂。结果发现，对照处理中，间隔子连接的分株对在光养交互斑块中与间隔子断裂的分株对相比较表现出克隆分工，即高光低养斑块中的分株的根系生物量分配增加，低光高养斑块中的分株的根系生物量分配减少。单菌处理没有影响对照处理中间隔子状态对分株对生物量分配的改变；多菌处理显著减小对照中生物量分配的改变；与单菌处理比较，多菌处理能显著减小生物量分配的改变。在高光低养斑块中，多菌处理显著抑制间隔子断裂分株的根生物量分配的增加。在低光高养斑块中，多菌处理完全抑制在对照处理中间隔子连接的分株的根生物量分配的增加。在对照处理中，间隔子连接分株的单叶面积、总叶面积、叶柄长、根长都与生物量分配趋势一致，表现出对丰富资源的特化。接菌处理能显著抑制这些形态指标的改变。多菌处理显著抑制这些指标的特化，并且抑制效果显著强于单菌处理。间隔子状态和AM真菌处理显著增加高光低养、低光高养斑块中分株及整个克隆片段的生物量和分株数。多菌处理抑制间隔子连接的克隆片段生物量和分株数增加。克隆片段的生物量和分株数在对照和单菌处理间无显著差异，在多菌处理中显著高于在单菌处理中。 以上三个实验说明，(1)AM真菌对克隆植物生长的影响与非克隆植物一样，受到植物种类和环境资源水平的影响；(2)AM真菌对异质性资源环境中克隆植物的影响由于植物不同而产生不同的效应；(3)提高AM真菌的多样性可能增强菌根对克隆植物的作用。 这些研究结果揭示出AM真菌与异质性环境中克隆植物整合作用、非局域反应和克隆分工作用的交互影响，表明克隆生长在生态系统中的重要性可由生物和非生物因素共同决定。

固氮植物菌根的普遍性及其联合共生的研究

豆科和非豆科固氮植物不仅能够固定大气中氮素，增加土壤中的氮素营养，而且由于具有较强的抗逆性，是恢复和重建退化农林生态系统的优良先锋树种。但在逆境条件下对固氮植物的固氮能力最经常的限制因子就是磷素供应，而菌根的形成保证了固氮作用对磷素的需求。目前国内外针对固N植物菌根这样联合共生的研究多停留在现象的描述上，对其机理缺乏深入研究。本文针对典型的固氮树种进行联合共生体人工纯培养研究，试图探讨联合共生体之间相互关系及作用机理，为更好地利用固氮植物资源及菌根技术提供理论依据。通过对共生资源的收集、培养及刺槐联合共生体的纯培养研究，得出如下结论：(1)固N植物同时受菌根侵染不仅具有普遍性，更有其生态学意义。在半干旱地区刺槐林下的VA菌主要有摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)、聚丛球囊霉(G. aggregatum)、细凹无梗囊霉(Acaulospora scrobiculata)三种，外生菌根真菌有尖顶地星(Geastrum triplex)、笼头菌(Clathrus sp.)两种，初步证实了刺槐除具根瘤外以同时受VA菌和外生菌根真菌的侵染；在沙棘林下优势种较明显只有一种，即聚丛球囊霉(G. aggregatum)。(2)对外生菌根菌进行了营养条件的选择实验，供试菌种对碳源的利用较为广泛，葡萄糖、果糖为其最适碳源，平均生长量比对照高出4.4倍；供试菌种对有机氮的利用利用机氮，平均生长量比无机氮源高出1.6倍。(3)在人工纯增减条件下，接种的VA菌、外生菌根菌和根瘤菌均成功侵染了刺槐无菌苗，并形成了内生、外生菌根和根瘤，更充分地证实了刺槐与VA菌、外生菌和固N菌之间的联合共生关系。(4)联合共生对刺槐生长、菌根侵染、根瘤菌的结瘤固N能力均有不同程度的促进作用。VA菌根菌中的苏格兰球囊霉(G. caledonium)和外生菌根菌中的毛边华狙伞(H. mesophaseum)是刺槐比较适合的菌根菌；VA菌和外生菌双接种对宿主植物生长有明显的促进作用，混合接种苏格兰球囊霉(G. caledonium) + 毛边华锈伞(H. mesophaseum) + 劣味乳菇(L. insulsus)及混合接种摩西球囊霉(G. mosseae) + 苏格兰球囊霉(G. caledonium) + 毛边华锈伞(H. mesophaseum)的组合效果最好；接种固N菌对菌根菌的影响不明显，而接种菌根菌对刺槐固N能力有明显的促进作用，尤以两种VA菌混接和两种外生菌混接对刺槐根际结瘤量和固N活性的促进作用最为明显；同时接种VA菌、外生菌和固N菌无论是对刺槐生长、结瘤固N还是菌根侵染都有显著的促进作用。其中最佳接种组合是苏格兰球囊霉(G. caledonium) + 毛边华锈伞(H. mesophaseum) + 劣味乳菇(L. insulsus) + 根瘤菌，宿主植物株高、地径、生物量、侧根数分别比对照增加46%、102%、213%、82%，结瘤量、固N活性分别比单接种固N菌增加500%、451%，菌根侵染率高达100%。(5)接种Frankia菌同时配合适度的P肥施用对沙棘的结瘤固N有明显的促进作用。由于沙棘的固N和供N作用，杨树-沙棘混交林中土壤有效态N、P的含量比杨树纯林分别增加36.7%、17.1%。综上所述，本文在刺槐联合共生体人工纯培养实验中得出具有重要意交的结论：从形态解剖上观测到了VA菌、外生菌根菌的侵染特征；定量研究了不同接种方式对刺槐生长、菌根菌的发育状况及结瘤固N能力的影响，选择出了最佳的接种组合。对宿主植物、菌根菌、固N菌之间相互作用及机理进行了初步的探讨。为固N植物联合共生体接种技术提供了理论依据。

PHCs污染土壤中植物-AM真菌联合生态效应研究

AM真菌的形成，对共生植物有许多有益的作用。近年来，科学家又将菌根用于修复污染的土壤。对辽河油田和沈抚污水灌区进行了AM菌的调查，结论如下：I)辽河油田和沈抚污水灌区的主要的AM真菌是Glomus mosseae, G. geospora, G. constrictum, Paraglomus occultum，其中优势属为Glomus。因北方冬季的严寒，经过一个冬季，土壤中的抱子密度减少80％以上。在资源调查的基础上，以三叶草、万寿菊和大豆作为供试植物，做盆栽模拟实验，结果为：I )当柴油浓度高达30 000 mg·kg~(-1)时，AM菌仍能侵染菊花，和菊花形成共生体；2）随着油浓度的增加，侵染率先增加，而后降低。3)随着油浓度的增加，叶绿素总量先略微增加，当油浓度高达30 000 mg·kg~(-1)时，叶绿素含量下降；4）随着油浓度的增加和灭菌，植物的营养生长和生殖生长受到抑制，而接AM菌、细菌和固氮菌能缓和这种抑制；5）随着油浓度的增加和AM菌的生育进程，AM菌的接种效应在增强。6）对接菌和不接菌的处理来说，随着油浓度的增加，降解率先增加，5000 mg·kg~(-1)时达到最大，分别为94.280la和93. 16%;然后降解率降低。低浓度时接入AM菌，能促进柴油的降解；而当油浓度高达30000mg·kg~(-1)时，不接AM菌反而降解效果会好些。

FACE对农田土壤微生物及VA菌根的影响

大气CO_2浓度升高对整个陆地生态系统产生巨大影响。微生物是土壤中重要而又活跃的组成部分，是自然界物质循环不可缺少的成员，行使着许多对陆地生命至关重要的功能。因此，了解土壤中微生物的变化，是了解整个陆地生态系统对大气CO_2浓度升高响应的关键。木文利用在江苏省无锡市建立的稻一麦轮作FACE系统研究平台，研究了CO_2浓度升高对农田土壤微生物及VA菌根的影响。结果发现在FACE条件下，土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌的数量都随着小麦和水稻的生长而发生变化，分别在小麦返青期和水稻拔节期偏大，随后均有所下降，与对照相比，CO_2浓度升高增加土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌的数量；小麦根区土壤中议菌根真菌的抱子以球囊霉属（Glomus）为优势属，以摩西球囊霉（Glomus mosseae）为优势种；在小麦拔节期和孕穗期观察到VA菌根真菌侵染，侵染率在拔节期偏高，后逐渐降低，CO_2浓度升高使小麦VA菌根侵染率增加，而在水稻根系没有观察到VA菌根真菌侵染；根系活力分别在小麦拔节期和水稻抽穗期偏高，到成熟期均降低，CO_2浓度升高使根系活力增强；小麦VA菌根侵染率与根系活力存在正相关关系。总之，大气CO_2浓度升高对农田土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌的数量、VA菌根侵染率及根系活力都表现出一定的促进作用。

不同丛枝菌根真菌对万寿菊生长及柴油降解率的影响

在盆栽条件下,用沈抚污灌区非灭菌水稻土,研究了柴油浓度为5 000 mg·kg-1时接种3种AM真菌(Glomus mosseae,G.geospora,G.constrictum)和细菌对万寿菊(Tagetes erecta)耐油性的影响.结果表明,在此浓度下,AM菌仍能和万寿菊形成共生体,白色万寿菊比黄色万寿菊耐油能力强,总生物量增加63.1％;接种AM真菌的处理,其侵染率比对照高3.5％～29.9％.G.mosseae和G.geospora是较好的菌种,总生物量分别比对照增加9.0％和42.7％;混接AM真菌效果一般.施入细菌菌剂虽然抑制了AM菌对万寿菊的侵染,但促进了菌根化植物的营养生长和生殖生长.5种接菌处理中,以接种G.geospora和混接AM菌和细菌的处理最好,对柴油的降解率分别比对照增加16.51％和14.05％.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi confer enhanced arsenate resistance on Holcus lanatus

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in arsenate resistance in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations is investigated here for two Glomus spp. isolated from the arsenate-resistant grass Holcus lanatus. Glomus mosseae and Glomus caledonium were isolated from H. lanatus growing on an arsenic-contaminated mine-spoil soil. The arsenate resistance of spores was compared with nonmine isolates using a germination assay. Short-term arsenate influx into roots and long-term plant accumulation of arsenic by plants were also investigated in uninfected arsenate resistant and nonresistant plants and in plants infected with mine and nonmine AMF. Mine AMF isolates were arsenate resistant compared with nonmine isolates. Resistant and nonresistant G. mosseae both suppressed high-affinity arsenate/phosphate transport into the roots of both resistant and nonresistant H. lanatus. Resistant AMF colonization of resistant H. lanatus growing in contaminated mine spoil reduced arsenate uptake by the host. We conclude that AMF have evolved arsenate resistance, and conferred enhanced resistance on H. lanatus.

Rôles des modifications de la microflore bactérienne et de l'exudation racinaire de la tomate par la symbiose mycorhizienne dans le biocontrôle sur le Phytophthora nicotianae

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Development and Integration of Biocontrol Products in Branched Broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa) management in Tomato

Parasitic weeds of the genera Striga, Orobanche, and Phelipanche pose a severe problem for agriculture because they are difficult to control and are highly destructive to several crops. The present work was carried out during the period October, 2009 to February, 2012 to evaluate the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to suppress P. ramosa on tomatoes and to investigate the effects of air-dried powder and aqueous extracts from Euphorbia hirta on germination and haustorium initiation in Phelipanche ramosa. The work was divided into three parts: a survey of the indigenous mycorrhizal flora in Sudan, second, laboratory and greenhouse experiments (conducted in Germany and Sudan) to construct a base for the third part, which was a field trial in Sudan. A survey was performed in 2009 in the White Nile state, Sudan to assess AMF spore densities and root colonization in nine fields planted with 13 different important agricultural crops. In addition, an attempt was made to study the relationship between soil physico-chemical properties and AMF spore density, colonization rate, species richness and other diversity indices. The mean percentage of AMF colonization was 34%, ranging from 19-50%. The spore densities (expressed as per 100 g dry soil) retrieved from the rhizosphere of different crops were relatively high, varying from 344 to 1222 with a mean of 798. There was no correlation between spore densities in soil and root colonization percentage. A total of 45 morphologically classifiable species representing ten genera of AMF were detected with no correlation between the number of species found in a soil sample and the spore density. The most abundant genus was Glomus (20 species). The AMF diversity expressed by the Shannon–Weaver index was highest in sorghum (H\= 2.27) and Jews mallow (H\= 2.13) and lowest in alfalfa (H\= 1.4). With respect to crop species, the genera Glomus and Entrophospora were encountered in almost all crops, except for Entrophospora in alfalfa. Kuklospora was found only in sugarcane and sorghum. The genus Ambispora was recovered only in mint and okra, while mint and onion were the only species on which no Acaulospora was found. The hierarchical cluster analysis based on the similarity among AMF communities with respect to crop species overall showed that species compositions were relatively similar with the highest dissimilarity of about 25% separating three of the mango samples and the four sorghum samples from all other samples. Laboratory experiments studied the influence of root and stem exudates of three tomato varieties infected by three different Glomus species on germination of P. ramosa. Root exudates were collected 21or 42 days after transplanting (DAT) and stem exudates 42 DAT and tested for their effects on germination of P. ramosa seeds in vitro. The tomato varieties studied did not have an effect on either mycorrhizal colonization or Phelipanche germination. Germination in response to exudates from 42 day old mycorrhizal plants was significantly reduced in comparison to non-mycorrhizal controls. Germination of P. ramosa in response to root exudates from 21 day old plants was consistently higher than for 42 day-old plants (F=121.6; P<.0001). Stem diffusates from non-mycorrhizal plants invariably elicited higher germination than diffusates from the corresponding mycorrhizal ones and differences were mostly statistically significant. A series of laboratory experiments was undertaken to investigate the effects of aqueous extracts from Euphorbia hirta on germination, radicle elongation, and haustorium initiation in P. ramosa. P. ramosa seeds conditioned in water and subsequently treated with diluted E. hirta extract (10-25% v/v) displayed considerable germination (47-62%). Increasing extract concentration to 50% or more reduced germination in response to the synthetic germination stimulants GR24 and Nijmegen-1 in a concentration dependent manner. P. ramosa germlings treated with diluted Euphorbia extract (10-75 % v/v) displayed haustorium initiation comparable to 2, 5-Dimethoxy-p-benzoquinon (DMBQ) at 20 µM. Euphorbia extract applied during conditioning reduced haustorium initiation in a concentration dependent manner. E. hirta extract or air-dried powder, applied to soil, induced considerable P. ramosa germination. Pot experiments were undertaken in a glasshouse at the University of Kassel, Germany, to investigate the effects of P. ramosa seed bank on tomato growth parameters. Different Phelipanche seed banks were established by mixing the parasite seeds (0 - 32 mg) with the potting medium in each pot. P. ramosa reduced all tomato growth parameters measured and the reduction progressively increased with seed bank. Root and total dry matter accumulation per tomato plant were most affected. P. ramosa emergence, number of tubercles, and tubercle dry weight increased with the seed bank and were, invariably, maximal with the highest seed bank. Another objective was to determine if different AM fungi differ in their effects on the colonization of tomatoes with P. ramosa and the performance of P. ramosa after colonization. Three AMF species viz. GIomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae and Glomus Sprint® were used in this study. For the infection, P. ramosa seeds (8 mg) were mixed with the top 5 cm soil in each pot. No mycorrhizal colonization was detected in un-inoculated control plants. P. ramosa infested, mycorrhiza inoculated tomato plants had significantly lower AMF colonization compared to plants not infested with P. ramosa. Inoculation with G. intraradices, G. mosseae and Glomus Sprint® reduced the number of emerged P. ramosa plants by 29.3, 45.3 and 62.7% and the number of tubercles by 22.2, 42 and 56.8%, respectively. Mycorrhizal root colonization was positively correlated with number of branches and total dry matter of tomatoes. Field experiments on tomato undertaken in 2010/12 were only partially successful because of insect infestations which resulted in the complete destruction of the second run of the experiment. The effects of the inoculation with AMF, the addition of 10 t ha-1 filter mud (FM), an organic residues from sugar processing and 36 or 72 kg N ha-1 on the infestation of tomatoes with P. ramosa were assessed. In un-inoculated control plants, AMF colonization ranged between 13.4 to 22.1% with no significant differences among FM and N treatments. Adding AMF or FM resulted in a significant increase of branching in the tomato plants with no additive effects. Dry weights were slightly increased through FM application when no N was applied and significantly at 36 kg N ha-1. There was no effect of FM on the time until the first Phelipanche emerged while AMF and N application interacted. Especially AMF inoculation resulted in a tendency to delayed P. ramosa emergence. The marketable yield was extremely low due to the strong fruit infestation with insects mainly whitefly Bemisia tabaci and tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta). Tomatoes inoculated with varied mycorrhiza species displayed different response to the insect infestation, as G. intraradices significantly reduced the infestation, while G. mosseae elicited higher insect infestation. The results of the present thesis indicate that there may be a potential of developing management strategies for P. ramosa targeting the pre-attachment stage namely germination and haustorial initiation using plant extracts. However, ways of practical use need to be developed. If such treatments can be combined with AMF inoculation also needs to be investigated. Overall, it will require a systematic approach to develop management tools that are easily applicable and affordable to Sudanese farmers. It is well-known that proper agronomical practices such as the design of an optimum crop rotation in cropping systems, reduced tillage, promotion of cover crops, the introduction of multi-microbial inoculants, and maintenance of proper phosphorus levels are advantageous if the mycorrhiza protection method is exploited against Phelipanche ramosa infestation. Without the knowledge about the biology of the parasitic weeds by the farmers and basic preventive measures such as hygiene and seed quality control no control strategy will be successful, however.

Effect of mycorrhizae and pH change at the root-soil interface on phosphorus uptake by Sorghum using a rhizocylinder technique

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) was grown for 40 days in. rhizocylinder (a growth container which permitted access to rh zosphere and nonrhizosphere soil), in two soils of low P status. Soils were fertilized with different rates of ammonium and nitrate and supplemented with 40 mg phosphorus (P) kg(-1) and inoculated with either Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) or nonmycorrhizal root inoculum.. N-serve (2 mg kg(-1)) was added to prevent nitrification. At harvest, soil from around the roots was collected at distances of 0-5, 5-10, and 10-20 mm from the root core which was 35 mm diameter. Sorghum plants, with and without mycorrhiza, grew larger with NH4+ than with NO3- application. After measuring soil pH, 4 3 suspensions of the same sample were titrated against 0.01 M HCl or 0.01 M NaOH until soil pH reached the nonplanted pH level. The acid or base requirement for each sample was calculated as mmol H+ or OFF kg(-1) soil. The magnitude of liberated acid or base depended on the form and rate of nitrogen and soil type. When the plant root was either uninfected or infected with mycorrhiza., soil pH changes extended up to 5 mm from the root core surface. In both soils, ammonium as an N source resulted in lower soil pH than nitrate. Mycorrhizal (VAM) inoculation did not enhance this difference. In mycorrhizal inoculated soil, P depletion extended tip to 20 mm from the root surface. In non-VAM inoculated soil P depletion extended up to 10 mm from the root surface and remained unchanged at greater distances. In the mycorrhizal inoculated soils, the contribution of the 0-5 mm soil zone to P uptake was greater than the core soil, which reflects the hyphal contribution to P supply. Nitrogen (N) applications that caused acidification increased P uptake because of increased demand; there is no direct evidence that the increased uptake was due to acidity increasing the solubility of P although this may have been a minor effect.

The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizas of selected Australian Fabaceae

Members of the Australian native perennial Fabaceae have been little explored with regard to their root biology and the role played by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in their establishment, nutrition and long-term health. The ultimate goal of our research is to determine the dependency of native perennial legumes on their co-evolved AM fungi and conversely, the impact of AM fungal species in agricultural fields on the productivity of sown native perennial legume pastures. In this paper we investigate the colonisation morphology in roots and the AMF, identified by spores extracted from rhizosphere soil, from three replicate plots of each of the native legumes, Cullen australasicum, C. tenax and Lotus australis and the exotic legumes L. pedunculatus and Medicago sativa. The plants were grown in an agricultural field. The level and density of colonisation by AM fungi, and the frequency of intraradical and extraradical hyphae, arbuscules, intraradical spores and hyphal coils all differed between host plants and did not consistently differ between native and exotic species. However, there were strong similarities between species in the same genus. The three dominant species of AM fungi in rhizosphere soil also differed with host plant, but one fungus (Glomus mosseae) was always the most dominant. Sub-dominant AM species were the same between species in the same genus. No consistent differences in dominant spores were observed between the exotic and native Fabaceae species. Our results suggest that plant host influences the mycorrhizal community in the rhizosphere soil and that structural and functional differences in the symbiosis may occur at the plant genus level, not the species level or due to provenance.