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Phosphorus addition increased carbon partitioning to autotrophic respiration but not to biomass production in an experiment with Zea mays
Author(s) -
Ven Arne,
Verlinden Melanie S.,
Fransen Erik,
Olsson Pål Axel,
Verbruggen Erik,
Wallander Håkan,
Vicca Sara
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.13785
Subject(s) - respiration , biomass (ecology) , phosphorus , autotroph , nutrient , biomass partitioning , agronomy , carbon fibers , human fertilization , chemistry , biology , botany , ecology , bacteria , genetics , organic chemistry , materials science , composite number , composite material
Plant carbon (C) partitioning—the relative use of photosynthates for biomass production, respiration, and other plant functions—is a key but poorly understood ecosystem process. In an experiment with Zea mays , with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we investigated the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization and AMF on plant C partitioning. Based on earlier studies, we expected C partitioning to biomass production (i.e., biomass production efficiency; BPE) to increase with increasing P addition due to reduced C partitioning to AMF. However, although plant growth was clearly stimulated by P addition, BPE did not increase. Instead, C partitioning to autotrophic respiration increased. These results contrasted with our expectations and with a previous experiment in the same set‐up where P addition increased BPE while no effect on autotropic respiration was found. The comparison of both experiments suggests a key role for AMF in explaining these contrasts. Whereas in the previous experiment substantial C partitioning to AMF reduced BPE under low P, in the current experiment, C partitioning to AMF was too low to directly influence BPE. Our results illustrate the complex influence of nutrient availability and mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant C partitioning.