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Sex‐specific strategies of phosphorus (P) acquisition in Populus cathayana as affected by soil P availability and distribution
Author(s) -
Xia Zhichao,
He Yue,
Yu Lei,
Lv Rubing,
Korpelainen Helena,
Li Chunyang
Publication year - 2020
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/nph.16170
Subject(s) - biology , biomass (ecology) , phosphorus , nutrient , symbiosis , biomass partitioning , mycorrhiza , botany , root system , hypha , agronomy , ecology , bacteria , chemistry , genetics , organic chemistry
Summary Soil phosphorus (P) availability and its distribution influence plant growth and productivity, but how they affect the growth dynamics and sex‐specific P acquisition strategies of dioecious plant species is poorly understood. In this study, the impact of soil P availability and its distribution on dioecious Populus cathayana was characterized. P. cathayana males and females were grown under three levels of P supply, and with homogeneous or heterogeneous P distribution. Females had a greater total root length, specific root length ( SRL ), biomass and foliar P concentration under high P supply. Under P deficiency, males had a smaller root system than females but a greater exudation of soil acid phosphatase, and a higher colonization rate and arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphal biomass, suggesting a better capacity to mine P and a stronger association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to forage P. Heterogeneous P distribution enhanced growth and root length density (RLD) in females. Female root proliferation in P‐rich patches was related to increased foliar P assimilation. Localized P application for increasing P availability did not enhance the biomass accumulation and the morphological plasticity of roots in males, but it raised hyphal biomass. The findings herein indicate that sex‐specific strategies in P acquisition relate to root morphology, root exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses, and they may contribute to sex‐specific resource utilization patterns and niche segregation.