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opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

Data from: The mechanism of promoting rhizosphere nutrient turnover for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi attribute to recruited functional bacterial assembly

Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi improves plant nutrient capture from the soil, yet there is limited knowledge about the diversity, structure, functioning, and assembly processes of AM fungi-related microbial communities. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing were used to detect bacteria in the rhizosphere of Lotus japonicus inoculated with and without AM fungi, and the L. japonicus mutant ljcbx (defective in symbiosis) inoculated with AM fungi in southern grassland soil. Our results show that AM symbiosis significantly increased bacterial diversity and promoted deterministic processes of bacterial community construction, suggesting that mycorrhizal symbiosis resulted in the directional enrichment of bacterial communities and established a stable rhizosphere bacterial community. AM fungi promoted the enrichment of nine bacteria, including Ohtaekwangia, Niastella, Gemmatimonas, Devosia, Sphingomonas, Novosphingobium, Opitutus, Lysobacter, Brevundimonas, which are positively correlated with NPK-related parameters. Through a functional identification experiment, we found that six of these genera, including Brevundimonas, Lysobacter, Ohtaekwangia, Sphingomonas, Devosia, and Gemmatimonas, demonstrated the ability to mineralize organophosphate and dissolve inorganic phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Our study revealed that AM fungi can regulate rhizosphere bacterial community assembly and attract specific rhizosphere bacteria to promote soil nutrient turnover in southern grasslands.

opencc-zeroMay 2022View details →

Spatial structure within root systems moderates stability of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal mutualism and plant-soil feedbacks

The persistence of mutualisms is paradoxical, as there are fitness incentives for exploitation. This is particularly true for plant-microbe mutualisms like arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), which are promiscuously, horizontally-transmitted. Preferential allocation by hosts to the best mutualist can stabilize horizontal mutualisms, however preferential allocation is imperfect, with its fidelity likely depending upon the spatial structure of symbionts in plant roots. In this study, we tested AM mutualisms' dependence on two dimensions of spatial structure: the initial dispersion of fungi and the ease of fungal dispersal, through three complementary experiments. We found that fitness of the beneficial AM fungus increased when fungi were initially separate, while initial spatial mixing benefited the fitness of the non-beneficial fungus. These effects were strongest when dispersal was limited, and hosts could discriminate. Additionally, we found that spatial structure moderated changes in AM fungal composition produced differential feedbacks on plant growth. Our results identify symbiont spatial structure within plant roots as an important modifier of plant preferential allocation and the dynamics of mycorrhizal mutualisms, with cascading effects on plant communities.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2022View details →

Visualizing mycorrhizal fungi in roots

Step-by-step guide in visualising mycorrhizal fungi in roots.  Why should you visualize them? - To study the mycorrhizal status of plant roots - To assess the efficiency of crop cultivars to form AMF symbiosis - To investigate biotic/abiotic factors affecting the root colonization potential of AMF This training material is aimed at researchers in crop science and sustainable agriculture.

opencc-zeroJun 2024View details →

Data from: Mycorrhizal symbiosis increases plant phylogenetic diversity and regulate community assembly

The intricate mechanisms shaping plant diversity and community composition are the cornerstone of ecological understanding. Yet, the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis, the fundamental partnership between fungi and plant roots, in influencing community composition has often been underestimated. Here, we use extensive species survey data from 1,315 terrestrial ecosystem sites to elucidate the influence of mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant phylogenetic diversity and its implications for community assembly processes. Our findings demonstrate that increasing mycorrhizal symbiotic potential leads to greater phylogenetic dispersion within plant communities. Furthermore, we unveil a distinct dichotomy in the assembly processes governed by mycorrhizal status. Mycorrhizal species predominantly influence deterministic processes, suggesting a role in niche-based community assembly. Conversely, non-mycorrhizal species exert a stronger influence on stochastic processes, highlighting the importance of random events in shaping community structure. These results underscore the crucial but often hidden role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in driving plant community diversity and assembly. This study provides valuable insights into the complex mechanisms shaping ecological communities and the way for more informed conservation and management practices that acknowledge the complex interplay between symbiosis and ecological community dynamics.

Figure 5 in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides

Figure 5. Non-metric multidimensional ordering (NMDS) of tree species treated with herbicides and control was performed for all analyzed variables of the tree species.

Figure 1 in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides

Figure 1. Percentage of total dry mass in relation to the control treatment of seedlings of forest trees species subjected to the herbicides atrazine and sulfentrazone via sub-irrigation. Averages followed by the same lowercase letter do not differ by Tukey's test at 5% significance for the herbicidal factor. Means followed by the same capital letter do not differ according to the Scott-Knott grouping criterion at 5% significance for the species. CV (Coefficient of variation) = 18.3%.

Figure 3 in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides

Figure 3. Spore count percentage in relation to the control treatment of seedlings of forest trees species subjected to the herbicides atrazine and sulfentrazone via sub-irrigation. Averages followed by the same lowercase letter do not differ by Tukey's test at 5% significance for the herbicidal factor. Means followed by the same capital letter do not differ according to the Scott-Knott grouping criterion at 5% significance for the species. CV (Coefficient of variation) = 10.96%.

Figure 4 in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides

Figure 4. Percentage of basal soil respiration in relation to the control treatment of seedlings of forest tree species subjected to the herbicides atrazine and sulfentrazone via sub-irrigation. Averages followed by the same lowercase letter do not differ by Tukey's test at 5% significance for the herbicidal factor. Means followed by the same capital letter do not differ according to the Scott-Knott grouping criterion at 5% significance for the species. CV (Coefficient of variation) = 11.63%.

Figure 2 in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides

Figure 2. Percentage of rhizospheric colonization by mycorrhizae in relation to the control treatment of seedlings of forest trees species subjected to the herbicides atrazine and sulfentrazone via sub-irrigation. Averages followed by the same lowercase letter do not differ by Tukey's test at 5% significance for the herbicidal factor. Means followed by the same capital letter do not differ according to the Scott-Knott grouping criterion at 5% significance for the species. CV (Coefficient of variation) = 8.93%.

Figure 3 in Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to root colonization, spore density, and soil properties among different spreading stages of the exotic plant threeflower beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a ZoysiO tenuifoliO lawn

Figure 3. Dynamics of the soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore density within Desmodium triflorum coverage levels and seasons.

Figure 6 in Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to root colonization, spore density, and soil properties among different spreading stages of the exotic plant threeflower beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a ZoysiO tenuifoliO lawn

Figure 6. Conceptual framework demonstrating possible mechanisms of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) during the spreading process of Desmodium triflorum in the Zoysia tenuifolia lawn. Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 indicate different spreading stages of the invasive plant D. triflorum. Corresponding mycorrhizal structures were shown as the four microscopic views. Light-green and medium-yellow circles indicate AM fungal spores predominantly produced by the root mycorrhizal structures of Z. tenuifolia and D. triflorum, respectively. Medium-green and dark-yellow lines indicate the life cycle of spores in Z. tenuifolia plants and in D. triflorum plants, respectively. The AM fungi might influence the spread of D. triflorum by the following steps: (1) the early stage of the lawn's development with only Z. tenuifolia growing but without D. triflorum present. This occurs at the very beginning of the lawn establishment, and the AM fungal spores that previously existed in the lawn soil first infected the fine roots of Z. tenuifolia and completed the life cycle on their own. (2) The early spreading stage of D. triflorum (level 1). The roots of the two plants come into contact with each other, inducing the external hyphae that originally grow closely on the Z. tenuifolia roots to infect the roots of D. triflorum. The difference between the mycorrhizal infections of the two host plants contributes to higher root mycorrhizal colonizations of D. triflorum compared with Z.tenuifolia. However, at this stage,D. triflorum is not as competitive as Z. tenuifolia in the lawn, although it has advantages in terms of mycorrhizal infections. Therefore, the soil AM fungal spores are still predominantly produced by the mycorrhizal structures of the AMF-infected Z. tenuifolia roots. (3) The intermediate spreading stage of D. triflorum (levels 2 and 3). Desmodium triflorum continues to spread in the lawn. The contact of the two plants becomes more frequent and further induces a much closer relationship between the AM infections of the two plants. The increased D. triflorum plants in the lawn and the advantage of D. triflorum in root mycorrhizal infections facilitate the contribution of the mycorrhizal structures of the D. triflorum roots to sporulation. Thus, in this stage, the soil AM fungal spores were produced by the mycorrhizal structures of both plants, thereby inducing insignificant correlations between the spore densities and the root colonizations of either Z. tenuifolia or D. triflorum. (4) The late spreading stage of D. triflorum (levels 4 and 5). Desmodium triflorum is dominant in the lawn.The large numbers of D. triflorum plants and the AM infection advantage of D. triflorum facilitate AMF sporulation in the soil, thereby inducing significant correlations between the spore densities and the root colonizations of D. triflorum. At the different spreading stages of D. triflorum, the soil AM fungal communities also change as a result of the changed contributions of the AMF-infected host plants to the sporulation.

Figure 5 in Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to root colonization, spore density, and soil properties among different spreading stages of the exotic plant threeflower beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a ZoysiO tenuifoliO lawn

Figure 5. The relative abundance and community composition at the family (A) and species levels (B) of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils of different Desmodium triflorum coverage levels.

Figure 2 in Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to root colonization, spore density, and soil properties among different spreading stages of the exotic plant threeflower beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a ZoysiO tenuifoliO lawn

Figure 2. Dynamics of the total, hyphal, and vesicular colonizations of Zoysia tenuifolia and Desmodium triflorum among different D. triflorum coverage levels and seasons. "Season," "Coverage," and "Species" indicate ANOVA results of each indicator among seasons and D. triflorum coverage levels and between the two plants, respectively.

Figure 4 in Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to root colonization, spore density, and soil properties among different spreading stages of the exotic plant threeflower beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a ZoysiO tenuifoliO lawn

Figure 4. Correlations among the root mycorrhizal colonizations, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore densities ("AMF spore density"), and soil properties in different coverage levels of Desmodium triflorum. ZTC, ZHC, and ZVC in light-green circles indicate the total colonization (TC), hyphal colonization (HC), and vesicular colonization (VC) of Zoysia tenuifolia, respectively. DTC, DHC, and DVC in light-red circles indicate the TC, HC, and VC of D. triflorum, respectively. Green lines and green-colored numbers indicate significant correlations between the colonization indicators of Z. tenuifolia and corresponding correlation coefficients, respectively. Red lines and red-colored numbers indicate significant correlations between the colonization indicators of Z. tenuifolia and corresponding correlation coefficients, respectively. Dark-green double arrows and dark-green numbers indicate the correlations between the colonizations of Z. tenuifolia and those of D. triflorum and corresponding correlation coefficients, respectively. Light-blue double arrows and light-blue numbers indicate the correlations between the spore densities and soil properties/root colonizations and corresponding correlation coefficients,respectively. Darkyellow double arrows and dark-yellow numbers indicate the correlations between the soil properties and root colonizations and corresponding correlation coefficients, respectively. Correlation is significant at: *P <0.05; **P <0.01; ***P <0.001. The minus sign indicates a negative correlation. Insignificant correlations are not shown.

Figure 1 in Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to root colonization, spore density, and soil properties among different spreading stages of the exotic plant threeflower beggarweed (Desmodium triflorum) in a ZoysiO tenuifoliO lawn

Figure 1. Dynamics of the soil physiochemical properties (average ± SE, n = 5) within different Desmodium triflorum coverage levels and seasons. "Season" and "Coverage" indicate ANOVA results of each indicator among seasons and D. triflorum coverage levels, respectively. Level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 indicate the coverage levels of D. triflorum in the Zoysia tenuifolia lawn, respectively, in this and all following figures.

opencc-zeroJul 2024View details →

Data from: Measuring leaf and root functional traits uncovers multidimensionality of plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Premise of the study While many studies have measured the aboveground responses of plants to mycorrhizal fungi at a single time point, little is known about how plants respond belowground or across time to mycorrhizal symbiosis. By measuring belowground responses as well as growth over time in many plant species, we create a more complete picture of how mycorrhizal fungi benefit their hosts. Methods We grew 26 prairie plant species with and without mycorrhizal fungi and measured fourteen functional traits measuring above and belowground tissue quality and quantity responses and changes in resource allocation. We used function-value trait (FVT) modeling to characterize changes in species growth rate when colonized. Key results While aboveground biomass responses were positive, the response of traits belowground were much more variable. Changes in aboveground biomass accounted for 60.8% of the variation in mycorrhizal responses, supporting the use of aboveground biomass response as the primary response trait. Responses belowground were not associated with aboveground responses and accounted for 18.3% of the variation. Growth responses over time were highly variable across species. Interestingly, none of the measured responses were phylogenetically conserved. Conclusions Mycorrhizal fungi increase plant growth in most scenarios, but the effects of these fungi belowground and across time are more complicated. This study highlights how differences in plant allocation priorities might affect how they utilize the benefits from mycorrhizal fungi. Identifying and characterizing these differences is a key step to understanding the effects of mycorrhizal mutualisms on whole plant physiology.

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2015View details →

Fig. 2 in The impact of meteorological parameters on the biological productivity of mycorrhizal mushrooms in Eastern Siberia

Fig. 2. The variation of total amount of month precipitations *** in August and biological productivity**** of mushrooms in different years. *** variation of total amount of month precipitations, **** biological productivity

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2015View details →

Fig. 1 in The impact of meteorological parameters on the biological productivity of mycorrhizal mushrooms in Eastern Siberia

Fig. 1. The variation of average month temperature * of soil at a depth of 40 cm below the natural cover in August and biological productivity** of mushrooms in different years. * variation of average month temperature, ** biological productivity, *** 1 centner = 100 kilograms (a centner is a metric unit of mass equal to one hundred kilograms).

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2024View details →

Data for Publication - Impact of agricultural systems on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community composition in Robusta coffee roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Data used for the publication: "Impact of agricultural systems on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community composition in Robusta coffee roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo" - Ieben Broeckhoven, Arne Devriese, Olivier Honnay, Roel Merckx, and Bruno Verbist