Open AccessAllocation of plant carbon to foraging and storage in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Author(s) -
Gavito Mayra E,
Olsson Pål Axel
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1016/s0168-6496(03)00150-8
Subject(s) - biology , nutrient , foraging , hypha , fatty acid , botany , mycelium , photosynthesis , terrestrial plant , arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi , mycorrhiza , shoot , photosynthetic capacity , symbiosis , ecology , horticulture , biochemistry , bacteria , inoculation , genetics
Foraging strategies, the cost–benefit associated with the search for new resources, have only begun to be explored in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We show the use of 13 C‐labelling, via shoot photosynthesis, of the 16:1ω5 fatty acid biomarker (the dominant and rather specific fatty acid in AMF storage lipids) to study the immediate patterns of carbon allocation to fungal lipids in response to inorganic and organic nutrient amendments. Signature fatty acid measurements, the incorporation of the label and complementary hyphal length density measurements showed that the extraradical mycelium of AMF proliferated in response to all the amendments provided whereas its development into unamended sand was minor in all treatments. We demonstrate the foraging capacity of AMF, linked to plant carbon, through their hyphal proliferation and accumulation of energy reserves.