Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition determines the competitive response of two grassland forbs

Neuenkamp, Lena; Zobel, Martin; Lind, Eva; Gerz, Maret; Moora, Mari; Gao, Cheng (2019). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition determines the competitive response of two grassland forbs. PLoS ONE, 14(7), e0219527. Public Library of Science 10.1371/journal.pone.0219527

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We performed a greenhouse experiment to assess how differences in AM fungal community composition affect competitive response of grassland plant species. We used a full factorial design to determine how inoculation with natural AM fungal communities from different habitats in Western Estonia affects the growth response of two grassland forbs (Leontodon hispidus L., Plantago lanceolata L.) to competition with a dominant grass (Festuca rubra L.). We used AM fungal inocula that were known to differ in AM fungal diversity and composition: more diverse AM fungal communities from open grasslands and less diverse AM fungal communities from former grassland densely overgrown by pines (young pine forest). The presence of AM fungi balanced competition between forb and grass species, by enhancing competitive response of the forbs. The magnitude of this effect was dependent on forb species identity and on the origin of the AM fungal inoculum in the soil. The grassland inoculum enhanced the competitive response of the forb species more effectively than the forest inoculum, but inoculum-specific competitive responses varied according to the habitat preference of the forb species. Our findings provide evidence that composition and diversity of natural AM fungal communities, as well as co-adaptation of plant hosts and AM-fungal communities to local habitat conditions, can determine plant-plant interactions and thus ultimately influence plant community structure in nature.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Department of Biology > Institute of Plant Sciences (IPS) > Plant Ecology
08 Faculty of Science > Department of Biology > Institute of Plant Sciences (IPS)

UniBE Contributor:

Neuenkamp, Lena

Subjects:

500 Science > 580 Plants (Botany)

ISSN:

1932-6203

Publisher:

Public Library of Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Peter Alfred von Ballmoos-Haas

Date Deposited:

06 Aug 2019 13:40

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:30

Publisher DOI:

10.1371/journal.pone.0219527

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.132367

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/132367

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