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Combined effects of earthworms and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizas on plant and aphid performance
Author(s) -
Wurst Susanne,
DugassaGobena Dereje,
Langel Reinhard,
Bonkowski Michael,
Scheu Stefan
Publication year - 2004
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.1469-8137.2004.01106.x
Subject(s) - biology , myzus persicae , earthworm , plantago , mycorrhiza , glomus , plantaginaceae , agronomy , aphid , shoot , herbivore , biomass (ecology) , botany , symbiosis , genetics , spore , bacteria
Summary• Vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) and earthworms are known to affect plant and herbivore performance. However, surprisingly few studies have investigated their interactions. • In a glasshouse experiment we investigated the effects of earthworms ( Aporrectodea caliginosa ) and VAM ( Glomus intraradices ) on the growth and chemistry of Plantago lanceolata and the performance of aphids ( Myzus persicae ). • Earthworms did not affect VAM root colonization. Earthworms enhanced shoot biomass, and VAM reduced root biomass. VAM increased plant phosphorus content, but reduced the total amount of N in leaves. Earthworms led to a preferential uptake of soil N compared with 15 N from the added grass residues in the absence of VAM. Earthworm presence reduced the concentration of catalpol. Earthworms and VAM combined accelerated the development of M. persicae , while the development tended to be delayed when only VAM or earthworms were present. • We suggest that earthworms promote plant growth by enhancing soil N availability and may affect herbivores by influencing concentrations of secondary metabolites. VAM enhances the P uptake of plants, but presumably competes with plant roots for N.