Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate biotrophs that acquire carbon (C) solely from host plants. AM fungi can proliferate hyphae in, and acquire nitrogen (N) from, organic matter. Although they can transfer some of that N to plants, we tested the hypothesis that organic matter is an important N source for the AM fungi themselves. We grew pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi in microcosms that allowed only the fungus access to a 15N/13C-labeled organic patch; in some cases, one plant was shaded to reduce C supply to the fungus. The fungal hyphae proliferated vigorously in the patch, irrespective of shading, and increased plant growth and N content; approximately 3% of plant N came from the patch. The extraradical mycelium of the fungus was N-rich (3-5% N) and up to 31% of fungal N came from the patch, confirming the hypothesis. The fungus acquired N as decomposition products, because hyphae were not 13C-enriched. In a second experiment, hyphae of both G. hoi and Glomus mosseae that exploited an organic material patch were also better able to colonize a new host plant, demonstrating a fungal growth response. These findings show that AM fungi can obtain substantial amounts of N from decomposing organic materials and can enhance their fitness as a result. The large biomass and high N demand of AM fungi means that they represent a global N pool equivalent in magnitude to fine roots and play a substantial and hitherto overlooked role in the nitrogen cycle.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Fungal hyphae proliferated in the organic patch irrespective of shading.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- fungal hyphae proliferated vigorouslye0
- Qualifier
- irrespective of shadinge0
Verbatim
e0“The fungal hyphae proliferated vigorously in the patch, irrespective of shading”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
The fungal access to organic material increased plant growth.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Treatment
- AM fungus Glomus hoie1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- plant growthe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- without the AM fungus Glomus hoie1
Verbatim
e0“increased plant growth and N content”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
The fungus increased plant nitrogen content.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Treatment
- AM fungus Glomus hoie1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- N contente0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- without the AM fungus Glomus hoie1
Verbatim
e0“increased plant growth and N content”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
Approximately 3% of plant nitrogen came from the organic patch.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- plant N came from the patche0
- Value
- 3%e0
Verbatim
e0“approximately 3% of plant N came from the patch”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
The extraradical fungal mycelium contained 3-5% nitrogen.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- extraradical mycelium of the fungus was N-riche0
- Value
- 3-5% Ne0
Verbatim
e0“The extraradical mycelium of the fungus was N-rich (3-5% N)”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
Up to 31% of fungal nitrogen came from the organic patch.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- fungal N came from the patche0
- Value
- 31%e0
Verbatim
e0“up to 31% of fungal N came from the patch”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
Lack of 13C enrichment indicated fungal uptake of nitrogen as decomposition products.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Interactor
- Glomus hoiGlomus hoie1symbiont
- Outcome
- fungus acquired N as decomposition productse0
- Qualifier
- hyphae were not 13C-enrichede0
Verbatim
e0“The fungus acquired N as decomposition products, because hyphae were not 13C-enriched”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
Hyphae of G. hoi accessing organic material colonized a new host plant better.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Treatment
- organic material patche0
- Interactor
- G. hoiGlomus hoie0symbiont
- Outcome
- colonize a new host plante0
- Direction
- bettere0
Verbatim
e0“hyphae of both G. hoi and Glomus mosseae that exploited an organic material patch were also better able to colonize a new host plant”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
Claim · model-written summary
Hyphae of Glomus mosseae accessing organic material colonized a new host plant better.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Treatment
- organic material patche0
- Interactor
- Glomus mosseae
Funneliformis mosseaee0symbiont - Outcome
- colonize a new host plante0
- Direction
- bettere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“hyphae of both G. hoi and Glomus mosseae that exploited an organic material patch were also better able to colonize a new host plant”
e1“pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi”
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See all 23 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.