Arbuscular common mycorrhizal networks mediate intra- and interspecific interactions of two prairie grasses

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form extensive common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that may interconnect neighboring root systems of the same or different plant species, thereby potentially influencing the distribution of limiting mineral nutrients among plants. We examined how CMNs affected intra- and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mycorrhiza 2018, Vol.28 (1), p.71-83
Main Authors: Weremijewicz, Joanna, da Silveira Lobo O’Reilly Sternberg, Leonel, Janos, David P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Andropogon gerardii
Arbuscular mycorrhizas
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ecology
Elymus canadensis
Forestry
Fungi
Grasses
Hierarchies
Interspecific
Life Sciences
Manganese
Microbiology
Microcosms
Nutrients
Nutrition
Original Paper
Plant communities
Plant Sciences
Plant species
Plants (botany)
Prairies
Roots
Soil improvement
Species
Water relations
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Summary:Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form extensive common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that may interconnect neighboring root systems of the same or different plant species, thereby potentially influencing the distribution of limiting mineral nutrients among plants. We examined how CMNs affected intra- and interspecific interactions within and between populations of Andropogon gerardii , a highly mycorrhiza dependent, dominant prairie grass and Elymus canadensis , a moderately dependent, subordinate prairie species. We grew A. gerardii and E. canadensis alone and intermixed in microcosms, with individual root systems isolated, but either interconnected by CMNs or with CMNs severed weekly. CMNs, which provided access to a large soil volume, improved survival of both A. gerardii and E. canadensis , but intensified intraspecific competition for A. gerardii . When mixed with E. canadensis , A. gerardii overyielded aboveground biomass in the presence of intact CMNs but not when CMNs were severed, suggesting that A. gerardii with intact CMNs most benefitted from weaker interspecific than intraspecific interactions across CMNs. CMNs improved manganese uptake by both species, with the largest plants receiving the most manganese. Enhanced growth in consequence of improved mineral nutrition led to large E. canadensis in intact CMNs experiencing water-stress, as indicated by 13 C isotope abundance. Our findings suggest that in prairie plant communities, CMNs may influence mineral nutrient distribution, water relations, within-species size hierarchies, and between-species interactions.
ISSN:0940-6360
1432-1890
DOI:10.1007/s00572-017-0801-0