Carbon partitioning in a split-root system of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants is fungal and plant species dependent

Sylvain Lerat; Line Lapointe; Sylvain Gutjahr; Yves Piché; Horst Vierheilig

doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00691.x

Carbon partitioning in a split-root system of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants is fungal and plant species dependent

New Phytol. 2003 Mar;157(3):589-595. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00691.x.

Authors

Sylvain Lerat^{1

2}, Line Lapointe^{1

2}, Sylvain Gutjahr¹, Yves Piché², Horst Vierheilig^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Département de Biologie, Pavillon Vachon, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4.
² Centre de Recherche en Biologie Forestière, Pavillon Marchand, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4.
³ University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.

PMID: 33873404
DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00691.x

Abstract

• Root carbon (C) partitioning in two host plant species colonized by one of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species was investigated. • Split-root systems of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) were inoculated on one side with one of three AM fungi. Leaves were labelled with ¹⁴ CO₂ 3 wk after inoculation. Plants were harvested 24 h later and the root systems from the mycorrhizal (M) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) sides were analysed separately for ¹⁴ C. • Partitioning of ¹⁴ C between M and NM sides varied depending on the fungal and host plant species used. Gigaspora rosea showed a strong C-sink capacity with both plant species, Glomus intraradices showed a strong C-sink capacity with barley, and Glomus mosseae did not affect ¹⁴ C partitioning. The C-sink strength of the M barley roots inoculated with G. rosea or G. intraradices was linearly correlated with the degree of colonization. • The use of three AM fungal and two plant species allowed us to conclude that C-sink strength of AM fungi depends on both partners involved in the symbiosis.

Keywords: Gigaspora rosea; Glomus intraradices; Glomus mosseae; arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi; barley (Hordeum vulgare); carbon sink; colonization levels; sugar maple (Acer saccharum).