Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in root mineral uptake under CaCO3 stress

• Published in: Mycorrhiza 2012-07, Vol.22 (5), p.337-345
• Main Authors: Labidi, Sonia, Ben Jeddi, Fayçal, Tisserant, Benoit, Debiane, Djouher, Rezgui, Salah, Grandmougin-Ferjani, Anne, Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, Anissa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; alkaline phosphatase; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; calcium carbonate; Calcium Carbonate - pharmacology; chicory; Ecology; Economic plant physiology; Enzymatic activity; enzyme activity; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi - drug effects; Fungi - growth & development; germination; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Minerals - metabolism; Mycorrhizae - drug effects; Mycorrhizae - growth & development; Mycorrhizae - metabolism; mycorrhizal fungi; Nutrient uptake; Original Paper; Parasitism and symbiosis; Plant growth; Plant physiology and development; Plant Roots - drug effects; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plant Roots - microbiology; Plant Sciences; Rhizophagus; root growth; Roots; Spores, Fungal - drug effects; Spores, Fungal - growth & development; sporulation; Stress, Physiological; Symbiosis; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae
• ISSN: 0940-6360; 1432-1890
• DOI: 10.1007/s00572-011-0405-z

This study investigated the effects of increasing CaCO3 concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 mM) on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis establishment as well as on chicory root growth and mineral nutrient uptake in a monoxenic system. Although CaCO3 treatments significantly decreased root growth and altered the symbiosis-related development steps of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (germination, germination hypha elongation, root colonization rate, extraradical hyphal development, sporulation), the fungus was able to completely fulfill its life cycle. Even when root growth decreased more drastically in mycorrhizal roots than in non-mycorrhizal ones in the presence of high CaCO3 levels, the AM symbiosis was found to be beneficial for root mineral uptake. Significant increases in P, N, Fe, Zn and Cu concentrations were recorded in the mycorrhizal roots. Whereas acid and alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activities remained constant in mycorrhizal roots, they were affected in non-mycorrhizal roots grown in the presence of CaCO3 when compared with the control.