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Sex‐specific variation in the interaction between Distichlis spicata (Poaceae) and mycorrhizal fungi
Author(s) -
Eppley Sarah M.,
Mercer Charlene A.,
Haaning Christian,
Graves Camille B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.3732/ajb.0900076
Subject(s) - biology , poaceae , variation (astronomy) , botany , astrophysics , physics
Associations between mycorrhizal fungi and plants can influence intraspecific competition and shape plant population structure. While variation in plant genotypes is known to affect mycorrhizal colonization in crop systems, little is known about how genotypes affect colonization in natural plant populations or how plant sex might influence colonization with mycorrhizal fungi in plant species with dimorphic sexual systems. In this study, we analyzed mycorrhizal colonization in males and females of the wetland dioecious grass Distichlis spicata , which has spatially segregated sexes. Our results suggest that D. spicata males and females interact with mycorrhizal fungi differently. We discuss the implications for the role of this sex‐specific symbiotic interaction in the maintenance of the within‐population sex ratio bias of D. spicata .