Above- and belowground interplay: Canopy CO2 uptake, carbon and nitrogen allocation and isotope fractionation along the plant-ectomycorrhiza continuum

Abstract

In forests, mycorrhizal fungi regulate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. We evaluated the interplay among ectomycorrhizas (ECM), ecosystem C fluxes, tree productivity, C and N exchange and isotopic fractionation along the soil-ECM-plant continuum in a Mediterranean beech forest. From bud break to leaf shedding, we monitored: net ecosystem exchange (NEE, a measure of the net exchange of C between an ecosystem and the atmosphere), leaf area index, stem growth, N concentration, δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N in rhizosphere soil, ectomycorrhizal fine root tips (ERT), ECM-free fine root portions (NCR) and leaves. Seasonal changes in ERT relative biomass were strictly related to NEE and mimicked those detected in the radial growth. The analysis of δ¹³ C in ERT, leaves and NCR highlighted the impact of canopy photosynthesis on ERT development and an asynchronous seasonal C allocation strategy between ERT and NCR at the root tips level. Concerning N, δ¹⁵ N of leaves was negatively related to that of ERT and dependent on seasonal ¹⁵ N differences between ERT and NCR. Our results unravel a synchronous C allocation towards ERT and tree stem driven by the increasing NEE in spring-early summer. Moreover, they highlighted a phenology-dependent ¹⁵ N fractionation during N transfer from ECM to their hosts. This evidence, obtained in mature beech trees under natural conditions, may improve the knowledge of Mediterranean forests functionality.

Keywords: Fagus sylvatica; Mediterranean forest; mycorrhizal fungi; nutrient exchange; radial growth; soil-plant interaction.