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ECTOMYCORRHIZAS AFFECT IONIC BALANCE DURING AMMONIUM UPTAKE BY DOUGLAS‐FIR ROOTS
Author(s) -
BLEDSOE CAROLINE S.,
RYGIEWICZ PAUL T.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1986.tb00581.x
Subject(s) - ammonium , potassium , chemistry , bicarbonate , sodium , salinity , mycorrhiza , nutrient , douglas fir , botany , inorganic chemistry , zoology , biology , ecology , symbiosis , genetics , organic chemistry , bacteria
SUMMARY Mycorrhizas have been shown to alter ion fluxes for many nutrients. Experiments were done to determine the extent to which ectomycorrhizas alter the ionic balance of roots of Douglas‐fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings mycorrhizal with Hebeloma crustuliniforme (Bull, ex St. Amans) Qúel. exposed to solutions containing either 16 N ammonium sulphate or 16 N ammonium chloride. Net fluxes of ammonium, hydrogen, potassium, calcium, sodium, bicarbonate, sulphate and chloride were measured. The mycorrhizal association altered ion fluxes, primarily decreasing sodium uptake and potassium release rates (both anion treatments) and increasing bicarbonate release during exposure to ammonium chloride. Rates of carboxylate accumulation in the tissue were inferred from the net flux data; mycorrhizal seedlings may produce more cation‐carboxylate complexes compared with nonmycorrhizal seedlings. When compared with agricultural plants exposed to ammonium, Douglas‐fir took up a considerably greater number of cations for each ammonium ion absorbed, which may account for the greater number of carboxylate anions also produced by Douglas‐fir. These findings were discussed in terms of ecological significance for growth of Douglas‐fir.