蚯蚓与菌根提高玉米生长和氮磷吸收的互补效应

【目的】蚯蚓和丛枝菌根真菌处于不同的营养级,但在促进植物生长和提高土壤肥力等方面却都发挥着积极作用。研究蚯蚓菌根互作及其对玉米吸收土壤中的氮、磷养分的影响,可为提升土壤生物肥力及促进农业的可持续发展提供理论依据。【方法】本研究采用田间盆栽方式,以玉米为供试作物,研究蚯蚓(Eisenia fetida)与丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus intraradices)互作及其对玉米养分吸收的影响。试验设置P 25和175 mg/kg两个水平。每个磷水平进行接种与不接种菌根真菌以及添加与不添加蚯蚓,共8个处理。调查了玉米生长、养分吸收以及真菌浸染和土壤养分的有效性。【结果】两个磷水平下,蚯蚓和菌根在增加玉米地上部和根系生物量方面有显著正交互作用(P0.05)。接种菌根真菌的各处理显著增加了玉米的侵染率及泡囊丰度、根内菌丝丰度等菌根指标。同时添加蚯蚓和接种菌根真菌的处理(AM+E)显著提高了菌根的侵染率、菌丝密度、丛枝丰度和根内菌丝丰度但是泡囊丰度有所下降。两种磷水平下,AM+E处理玉米地上部和地下部含氮量和含磷量均显著高于其他三个处理。在低磷条件下,地上部氮磷总量的增加分别是添加蚯蚓和接菌的作用;而地下部磷总量的增加主要是菌根真菌的作用。在高磷条件下,单加蚯蚓显著增加玉米氮磷的总量,而接种菌根真菌对玉米氮磷吸收的影响未达显著性水平。在高磷条件下,单加蚯蚓的处理显著提高玉米地上地下部生物量(P0.05),而单接菌的处理效应不显著,蚯蚓菌根互作通过提高土壤微生物量碳、氮实现对玉米生长和养分吸收的调控。在低磷条件下,单接菌显著提高了玉米的生物量(P0.05),单加蚯蚓的处理具有增加玉米生物量的趋势。菌根真菌主要促进玉米对磷的吸收,蚯蚓主要矿化秸秆和土壤中的氮磷养分增加土壤养分的有效性,蚯蚓菌根互作促进了玉米根系对土壤养分的吸收并形成氮磷互补效应。【结论】无论在高磷还是低磷水平下,蚯蚓菌根相互作用都提高了玉米地上地下部生物量、氮磷吸收量同时提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮。蚯蚓菌根相互作用对植物生长的影响取决于土壤养分条件。在高磷条件下(氮相对不足),蚯蚓菌根互作通过调控土壤微生物量碳、氮调控玉米生长和养分吸收。低磷条件下,菌根主要发挥解磷作用,蚯蚓主要矿化秸秆和土壤中的氮素,蚯蚓和菌根互补调控土壤中氮、磷,从而促进植物的生长和养分吸收。     

蚯蚓菌根互作对土壤酶活、 甘薯根系生长及养分吸收的影响

【目的】蚯蚓和丛枝菌根真菌处于不同的营养级,但在促进植物生长和提高土壤肥力等方面却都发挥着积极作用。单独对土壤微生物或土壤动物的研究较多,但对土壤微生物与土壤动物之间相互作用的研究很少。因此研究它们对土壤和植物生长的作用可为挖掘土壤生物的潜力和提高土壤生物肥力提供依据。【方法】采用盆栽试验,研究了蚯蚓(Eisenia fetida)与丛枝菌根真菌(Rhizophagus irregularis)互作对甘薯生长和养分吸收的影响。试验采用两因素完全随机试验设计,分为接种和不接种菌根真菌及添加和不添加蚯蚓。试验共4个处理: 不加菌根和蚯蚓(CK); 接种菌根真菌(AM); 添加蚯蚓(E); 添加蚯蚓和菌根真菌(E+AM),每个处理4次重复。调查了甘薯养分吸收、 根系形态及土壤养分变化,采用Canoco4.5软件对土壤生物与植物对应关系进行RDA (redundancy analysis)分析。【结果】接种菌根真菌显著提高了甘薯地上和地下部生物量(P0.05),而添加蚯蚓的处理仅提高了甘薯地上部生物量。同时添加蚯蚓和菌根的处理显著提高了甘薯地上地下部生物量,并且高于其他三个处理(P0.05)。与对照相比,接种菌根真菌显著提高了土壤磷酸酶活性(P0.01),增幅近一倍; 同时提高了土壤磷的植物有效性,土壤有效磷含量下降了30%左右。添加蚯蚓后土壤脲酶活性从5.45 mg NH+4-N/g显著增加到8.71 mg NH+4-N/g,土壤碱解氮的含量从5.82 mg/kg显著增加到6.89 mg/kg (P0.05)。RDA分析表明蚯蚓菌根互作对甘薯地上和地下部氮磷含量、 根表面积、 根体积、 根平均直径和根尖数均存在显著的正交互效应。蚯蚓菌根互作通过调控土壤酶和改变土壤养分有效性促进甘薯对土壤氮磷养分的吸收。【结论】蚯蚓(Eisenia fetida)通过调控土壤脲酶和碱性磷酸酶增加了土壤中氮磷的有效性从而促进甘薯地上部生长。丛枝菌根真菌(Rhizophagus irregularis)通过调控土壤磷酸酶和增加植株地上地下部吸磷量从而促进甘薯生长。添加蚯蚓或接种菌根真菌均能增加根系吸收面积和根体积从而促进甘薯对养分的吸收。蚯蚓和菌根真菌相互作用通过调控土壤酶和改变土壤养分有效性以及促进根系发育从而互补的促进甘薯养分吸收和生长。     

土壤因子对柠条和沙棘根际AM真菌多样性及侵染状况的影响

在各种陆地生态系统中几乎都有丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,简称AM)真菌的分布,AM真菌作为土壤微生物群落的主要组分,能与大多数高等植物形成共生关系。同时,各种生态因子也对AM真菌的分布、侵染、产孢及其生理效应产生不同程度的影响,尤以土壤因子对AM真菌的影响较为突出[1]。盖京苹等[2]研究证实山东地区土壤因子对AM真菌的侵染、生长和分布有显著作用;蔡晓布等[3]研究了土壤因子对西藏高原草地植物AM真菌的影响。迄今为止,对西北干旱、半干旱地区主要植物丛枝菌根的形成条件、影响因素等方面的研究较少[4]。安塞纸坊沟流域位于黄土高原丘陵区,其生态系统先后经历严重破坏期、继续破     

蚯蚓和丛枝菌根真菌对南瓜修复多环芳烃污染土壤的影响

在温室盆栽实验条件下,研究接种AM(arbuscular mycorrhiza)真菌、蚯蚓(Eisenia fetida)对南瓜(Cucurbita moschata)修复3环以上多环芳烃(PAHs)污染农田土壤的影响,试验设置单接AM真菌、单接蚯蚓、双接AM真菌和蚯蚓、不接种的对照共4个处理,播种10周后收获。结果表明,接种AM真菌和蚯蚓促进AM真菌侵染南瓜,增加南瓜生物量;显著提高南瓜修复土壤中Phe(菲)、An(t蒽)、Py(r芘)、BkF(苯并(k)荧蒽)、BaP(苯并(a)芘)、BPe(r苯并(g,h,i)苝)等PAHs污染物的效率,促进南瓜高效地吸收3~5环PAHs,尤其是AM真菌和蚯蚓共同接种条件下对南瓜修复土壤效果最优;AM真菌利于南瓜转移根系吸收的高浓度PAHs化合物至地上部,降低PAHs对根系的胁迫,增强南瓜在高浓度PAHs污染土壤中存活,有利于南瓜应用于高浓度PAHs污染土壤的高效修复;蚯蚓对南瓜地下部吸持3~5环高分子量的PAHs化合物有积极作用。因此,选用的AM真菌和蚯蚓在土壤中具有协同作用,促进南瓜高效修复PAHs污染土壤。     

土壤因子对西藏高原草地植物AM真菌的影响

于西藏高原中部地区就土壤因子对草地植物AM真菌的影响进行的研究表明：AM真菌孢子密度与菌根侵染率、菌根侵染强度无相关性；土壤质地对AM真菌孢子密度的影响明显大于土壤类型，壤土、粉砂土中AM真菌对植物根系的侵染率高于砂壤土；土壤pH与植物根围土壤孢子密度、菌根侵染率分别呈显著正相关和正相关，与菌根侵染强度则呈负相关；土壤有机质与AM真菌孢子密度呈负相关，菌根侵染效果则随土壤有机质含量的增加而提高；高磷土壤环境对AM真菌产孢和侵染均具不同程度的抑制作用，其中植物菌根侵染率随土壤有效磷含量的提高而呈显著下降；AM真菌对莎草科植物矮生嵩草、扁穗莎草根系具有良好的侵染效应。     

烟草与丛枝菌根真菌的共生效应研究进展

丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌是陆地生态系统中广泛存在的一类专性共生土壤微生物,是根系土壤区域中重要的功能菌群之一。AM真菌可侵染植物根系形成丛枝菌根共生体,改变植物根系形态和改善营养状况,从而提高宿主植物的生长发育、产量、质量和抗逆性。目前从烟草根系土壤分离报道的AM真菌已达13属54种,显示出烟草(Nicotiana tobacum L.)栽培的潜在AM真菌资源较为丰富。围绕烟草与AM真菌的共生效应,总结了影响AM真菌侵染和定殖烟草根系的主要因素,阐述了AM真菌对烟草生长、抗性生理及品质的影响,并对PGPR与AM真菌的协同作用进行了简要回顾,最后讨论了该领域存在的不足及今后展望;旨在为菌根技术运用于烟草栽培提供参考。     

AM真菌与地上草食动物的互作及其对宿主植物的影响

丛枝菌根是自然生态系统中广泛存在的一种植物根系与菌根真菌的共生体.放牧是草原生态系统的一种重要生态学功能.目前,关于AM真菌和植物的关系,以及草食动物与植物的相互作用研究已经非常深入,但有关AM真菌-植物-草食动物的多重相互作用研究尚处于发展初期.本文从揭示AM真菌-植物-草食动物三者相互作用机理的角度出发,围绕动物采食作用对AM真菌的侵染、孢子群落组成的变化及其作用机理,丛枝菌根对动物采食行为的影响,以及植物个体与群落对二者共同作用的响应等方面,对AM真菌-植物-草食动物研究领域最新的成果进行综述,并在此基础上,提出AM真菌-植物-草食动物相互作用领域未来的研究方向.     

不同施铜水平下接种AM真菌对海州香薷根际pH的影响

研究表明,丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌对宿主植物生长和吸收、转运重金属的作用受土壤pH的影响[1-3]。植物可以通过分泌质子或有机酸等改变根际土壤的pH,接种AM真菌可以改变宿主植物的根系分泌物[4-6],从而影响土壤pH。Li等[7]研究发现,接种AM真菌的白三叶在根-土界面、菌丝室及菌丝-土壤界面的pH均降低。Li和Christie[8]发现Zn污染土壤中接种G.mosseae降低了红三叶植物体内Zn浓度和吸收量;菌根处理土壤的pH比对照土壤高,土壤溶液中的Zn浓度低,在施Zn量大时尤为显著。AM真菌菌丝往往在利用NO3-N的同时释放出OH-,导致…     

松嫩盐碱草地植物丛枝菌根的初步调查

对松嫩盐碱草地主要植物的丛枝菌根(AM)真菌共生状况进行了初步调查,在观察的9科20种植物中,所有植物均能被AM真菌侵染。在过去认为不被侵染的莎草科、藜科和蓼科植物中,发现球序苔草、碱蓬、灰绿藜、碱地肤、萹蓄蓼和碱蓼有侵染现象。丛枝菌根结构类型以Arum类型(A-型)为主,占75%,少数为Paris类型(P-型),占15%。根际土壤中AM真菌孢子密度范围为0.23～4.71个g-1。在不同质地土壤条件下,根际土壤中AM真菌孢子密度、AM真菌侵染率和侵染强度均有差异,松嫩盐碱草地的壤土比砂壤土更适宜AM真菌的生存。植物根际土壤的pH值和全盐含量对AM真菌侵染和AM真菌均有一定的影响。     

降水变化和氮沉降对荒漠草原土壤丛枝菌根真菌群落结构的影响

降水变化和氮沉降是影响植物、微生物和土壤环境变化的两个重要方面。尽管丛枝菌根（AM）真菌在陆地生态系统中起着至关重要的作用，但人们对降水变化和氮添加如何交互影响AM真菌群落仍知之甚少。本研究以短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象，采用裂区设计，主区为自然降雨(CK)、增雨30%(W)和减雨30%(R)三个水分梯度，副区为0(N0)，30(N30)，50(N50)和100(N100) kg?hm-2?a-1 四个氮素梯度共12个处理，通过高通量测序分析了土壤中AM真菌群落的多样性和组成。结果发现，水分处理对土壤AM真菌的Alpha多样性有促进作用，氮素处理抑制了土壤AM真菌的Alpha多样性，水分增加和氮素添加的交互作用促进了AM真菌的Alpha多样性增加，并改变了土壤AM真菌群落组成。水分和氮素刺激了各功能型植物生物量的增加，氮添加使多年生杂草和半灌木、小半灌木生物量显著增加，多年生禾草生物量显著减少。此外，多型孢子菌科的相对丰度与一二年生植物和半灌木、小半灌木生物量呈显著正相关，一二年生植物和半灌木、小半灌木生物量在氮添加和增雨处理下增加。本研究证明了AM真菌群落在短期气候变化下的稳定性。此外，AM真菌在科水平上的丰度与各生活型植物地上生物量的相关性证明了地上和地下生态系统的连通性。     

Mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms reduce antioxidant enzyme activities in maize and sunflower plants grown in Cd-polluted soils

Changes in plant antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) in response to cadmium (Cd) pollution are an important mechanism for plant growth and tolerance to Cd-induced stress. The main objective of this greenhouse study was to determine the combined influence of earthworm and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungal inoculation and their interactions with Cd on AOEs and proline accumulation in leaves of two major crops under Cd stress. Maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants were exposed to Cd stress (10 and 20 mg kg⁻¹ soil), inoculated with either earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus L.) or AM fungi (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae species) in a pot experiment for three months. Exposure to Cd decreased shoot dry weights, increased shoot Cd and P concentrations, leaf proline accumulation and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants and both in the presence and absence of earthworms. Inoculation of both model plants with earthworms and AM fungi decreased shoot Cd concentrations and the activity of all AOEs, except PPO. Although earthworm activity enhanced the proline content of sunflower in Cd-polluted soils, the proline level of both plants remained unaffected by AM fungi. AM fungi and earthworms may decrease the activity of AOEs through a decline in shoot Cd toxicity and concentration, confirming that plant inoculation with these soil organisms improves maize and sunflower tolerance and protection against Cd toxicity. Generally, the effect of AM fungal inoculation on plant responses to Cd addition was greater than that of earthworm activity. Nonetheless, the interactive effect of AM fungus and earthworm is of minor importance for most of the plant AOEs in Cd-polluted soils.     

Interactions between phosphorus availability and an AM fungus (Glomus intraradices) and their effects on soil microbial respiration, biomass and enzyme activities in a calcareous soil

The interactions between soil P availability and mycorrhizal fungi could potentially impact the activity of soil microorganisms and enzymes involved in nutrient turnover and cycling, and subsequent plant growth. However, much remains to be known of the possible interactions among phosphorus availability and mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) grown in calcareous soils deficient in available P. The primary purpose of this study was to look at the interaction between P availability and an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices) on the growth of berseem clover and on soil microbial activity associated with plant growth. Berseem clover was grown in P unfertilized soil (−P) and P fertilized soil (+P), inoculated (+M) and non-inoculated (−M) with the mycorrhizal fungus for 70 days under greenhouse conditions. We found an increased biomass production of shoot and root for AM fungus-inoculated berseem relative to uninoculated berseem grown at low P levels. AM fungus inoculation led to an improvement of P and N uptake. Soil respiration (SR) responded positively to P addition, but negatively to AM fungus inoculation, suggesting that P limitation may be responsible for stimulating effects on microbial activity by P fertilization. Results showed decreases in microbial respiration and biomass C in mycorrhizal treatments, implying that reduced availability of C may account for the suppressive effects of AM fungus inoculation on microbial activity. However, both AM fungus inoculation and P fertilization affected neither substrate-induced respiration (SIR) nor microbial metabolic quotients (qCO₂). So, both P and C availability may concurrently limit the microbial activity in these calcareous P-fixing soils. On the contrary, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) enzymes responded negatively to P addition, but positively to AM fungus inoculation, indicating that AM fungus may only contribute to plant P nutrition without a significant contribution from the total microbial activity in the rhizosphere. Therefore, the contrasting effects of P and AM fungus on the soil microbial activity and biomass C and enzymes may have a positive or negative feedback to C dynamics and decomposition, and subsequently to nutrient cycling in these calcareous soils. In conclusion, soil microbial activity depended on the addition of P and/or the presence of AM fungus, which could affect either P or C availability.     

The interactive effect of an AM fungus and an organic amendment with regard to improving inoculum potential and the growth and nutrition of Trifolium repens in Cd-contaminated soils

Aspergillus niger-treated dry olive cake (DryOC) can be used as a soil organic amendment and the aim of this work was to study the effectiveness of this amendment and a Cd-adapted arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus in improving Trifolium repens growth and nutrition in Cd-contaminated soil. In a compartmentalized growth system, consisting of a root compartment (RC) and two hyphal compartments (HCs), we investigated the influence of the amendment on intraradical and extraradical AM fungi development. In addition, we studied the viability and infectivity of the detached extraradical mycelium in plants, designated as receptor plants, grown in the HC after removal of the RC. Both the amendment and the AM fungus increased shoot and root biomass and nodulation in both the non-contaminated and Cd-contaminated soils. The positive interaction between the microbiologically treated DryOC and the AM fungus resulted in the highest plant yield, which can be explained by enhanced nutrient acquisition and arbuscular richness as well as by the immobilisation of Cd in amended soils. However, A. niger-treated DryOC had no effect on the extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium development. Although Cd decreased AM hyphal length density, symbiotic infectivity was similar in receptor plants grown in non-contaminated and contaminated soil, thus confirming the AM fungal inoculum potential.The combination of the AM fungus and A. niger-treated DryOC increased plant tolerance to Cd in terms of plant growth and nutrition and can be regarded as an important strategy for reclaiming Cd-contaminated soils.     

Interaction between earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the degradation of oxytetracycline in soils

The interactive impact of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices, AM fungi) on the degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) in soils was studied under greenhouse conditions. Treatments included maize plants inoculated vs. not inoculated with AM fungi and treated with or without earthworms at low (1 mg kg⁻¹ soil DM) or high (100 mg kg⁻¹ soil DM) OTC rates. The root colonization rate, the hyphal density of mycorrhizae, the residual OTC concentration in soils, catalase, dehydrogenase, urease, soil microbial biomass C, Shannon–Wiener index (H) for microbial communities from T-RFLP profiles were measured at harvest. The results indicated that earthworms and AM fungi would individually or interactively enhance OTC decomposition and significantly decreased the residual OTC concentration at both high and low OTC rates. Both earthworms and AM fungi could promote the degradation of OTC by increasing soil microbial biomass C at both high and low OTC rates. The effect of soil enzyme activity and soil microbial diversity on OTC decomposition was different between high and low OTC rates. Hyphomicrobium and Bacillus cereus were dominant bacteria, and Thielavia and Chaetomium were dominant phyla of fungi at all occasions. Earthworm activity stimulated the growth of Hyphomicrobium and Thielavia, while AM fungi may stimulate B. cereus, Thielavia and Chaetomium, resulting in greater OTC decomposition. The interaction between earthworms and AM fungi in affecting the degradation of OTC may be attributed to different mechanisms, depending on soil microbial biomass, function (enzyme activity) and communities (the abundance of Hyphomicrobium, B. cereus, Thielavia and Chaetomium) in the soil.     

Effects of epigeic earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) on enzyme activities of a sterilized soil–sand mixture and nutrient uptake by maize

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of epigeic earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus intraradices) on soil enzyme activities and nutrient uptake by maize, which was grown on a mixture of sterilized soil and sand. Maize plants were grown in pots inoculated or not inoculated with AMF, treated or not treated with earthworms. Wheat straw was added as a feed source for earthworms. Mycorrhizal colonization of maize was markedly increased in AM fungi inoculated pots and further increased by addition of epigeic earthworms. AM fungi and epigeic earthworms increased maize shoot and root biomass, respectively. Soil acid phosphatase activity was increased by both earthworms and mycorrhiza, while urease and cellulase activities were only affected by earthworms. Inoculation with AM fungi significantly (p?<?0.001) increased the activity of soil acid phosphatase but decreased soil available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations at harvest. Addition of earthworms alone significantly (p?<?0.05) increased soil ammonium-N content, but decreased soil available P and K contents. AM fungi increased maize shoot weight and root P content, while earthworms improved N, P, and K contents in shoots. AM fungi and earthworm interactively increased maize shoot and root biomass through their regulation of soil enzyme activities and on the content of available soil N, P, and K.     

Differential interaction between two Glomus intraradices strains and a phosphate solubilizing bacterium in maize rhizosphere

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) have a positive effect on plant productivity primarily through increasing phosphate availability. In order to study the interaction between AM fungi and PSB, we used Bacillus megaterium, a PSB isolated from the sterilized surface of AM germinated spores, and two strains of the AM fungus Glomus intraradices with different mycelial architecture. A greenhouse experiment was designed with maize as host plant with the addition of tribasic calcium phosphate. We tested the hypothesis that PSB, intimately linked with AM fungi, could interact differentially with the two AM strains. We concluded that inoculation with the PSB positively affected maize mycorrhization. Insoluble phosphate alone did not influence the AM extraradical mycelium (ERM) length and maize mycorrhization when bacteria were not inoculated. The results provide evidence that the adverse effect on infectivity for some AM strains might be caused by solubilized phosphorus release to the rhizosphere by PSB. Differences related to the mycelium architecture of each AM strain were observed: the density of PSB in rhizosphere soil was significantly higher only with the GA8 strain coinciding with the highest values of maize biomass. The density of bacteria associated with GA8 mycelium could be the result of the transfer of photosynthates through the rhizosphere; this close contact would favor the persistence of the intimate relationship between PSB and AM hyphae. In the bacteria-free treatments, soil adherence was not significantly altered. Although the highest development of ERM occurred with GA5, plants inoculated with GA8 showed the highest values for soil adherence. This may be due to the AM mycelium which modifies bacterial persistence in the rhizosphere and consequently soil adherence. Our results show that for potential applications, some characteristics of the AM strains are key in the selection of the AM fungi–PSB combinations. These include the tolerance to soluble phosphorus, the rate of root colonization, and ERM development that favors the persistence of bacteria in rhizosphere soil.     

Earthworms can modify effects of hydrochar on growth of Plantago lanceolata and performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a method to produce carbonized material at relatively low temperatures (180–250 °C) under pressure and aqueous conditions. The product is called hydrochar and can be used as a soil amendment. However, applied in high dosages it may have detrimental effects on plants or soil biota. The potential impact of hydrochar amendment on beneficial soil organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms and their interactions are not well understood. The goal of the present study was to determine effects of hydrochar on plant growth and soil biota and to evaluate interactions of earthworms and hydrochar on plant and AMF performance and to identify underlying mechanisms. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the effect of hydrochar at different addition rates (control, 1% and 10%, v/v) with or without the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on the growth of Plantago lanceolata L. and the performance of its AMF. We observed a positive interaction between earthworms and 10% hydrochar on shoot and root biomass: added as a single treatment hydrochar had a negative effect on plant growth at this dosage, but plant biomass increased significantly when hydrochar was added together with earthworms. Root colonization by AMF increased significantly with increasing concentration of hydrochar, but was not affected by earthworms. Contrastingly, extraradical hyphal length of AMF was reduced by earthworms, but not affected by hydrochar. Thus, hydrochar and earthworms affected the performance of AMF, albeit of different AMF structures and in different directions. Our results indicate that earthworms may play an important role in alleviating the negative impacts of high dosages of hydrochar on plant growth; such interactions should move into focus of future research on potential effects of HTC materials.     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,inoculum level and phosphorus placement on growth and phosphorus uptake of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus calycinus</Emphasis> under jarrah forest soil

Phosphorus uptake and biomass production may vary between arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) species of contrasting life cycles and their modes of interaction with host plants. This research investigated differences among three AM fungi from different genera isolated from the jarrah forest with respect to their colonisation, biomass production and P uptake over time. The understorey plant Phyllanthus calycinus, has been shown to be extensively mycorrhizal. We examined differences in the capacity of fungi associated with this plant to access a P point source from increasing distances from the root. The methodology simulated “pockets” of P in forest soil. Phosphorus sources in root-exclusion mesh bags were inserted 2, 4 and 6 cm from plant roots restrained in separate mesh bags. Acaulospora laevis colonised plants to the greatest extent, producing higher plant biomass and P uptake compared to the other two fungi. Plant biomass and P uptake were enhanced where P sources were closest to the root, as expected, but there were differences among fungi in response to level of inoculum used for each fungus. The capacity of individual AM fungi to access a point source of P at different distances varied in a highly mycorrhizal native forest understorey plant in parallel with plant growth and P uptake.