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Mycorrhizal‐mediated phosphorus transfer between tallgrass prairie plants Sorghastrum nutans and Artemisia ludoviciana
Author(s) -
WILSON G. W. T.,
HARTNETT D. C.,
RICE C. W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01134.x
Subject(s) - biology , botany , mycelium , artemisia , forb , interspecific competition , nutrient , phosphorus , grassland , agronomy , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Summary1 A glasshouse 32 P‐labelling study examined arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)‐mediated transfer of phosphorus between individuals of two tallgrass prairie species, an obligately mycotrophic grass ( Sorghastrum nutans Vitm.) and a facultatively mycotrophic forb ( Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.). 2 Regardless of which species served as donor, 32 P was transferred between both intra‐ and interspecific neighbours via AM mycelia. However, nutrient transfer via AM fungi was not uniform between neighbouring species. 3 Conservative estimates indicate that interplant transfer via AM fungi accounted for >50% of the total 32 P acquisition by S. nutans , but accounted for only 20% of 32 P uptake into A. ludoviciana . 4 While this study did not show conclusively that a common mycelial network acted as a conduit for nutrient transfer, it clearly demonstrated that mycorrhizae facilitated transfer. 5 The results indicate that differential movement of plant resources via AM mycelium may be a mechanism whereby a dominant, highly mycotrophic grass extends competitive advantage over a less mycotrophic, subdominant forb species in grasslands.