Abstract
To study possible adaptive mechanisms inbred lines from three populations of Plantago major from sites that were found to differ in P availability were compared. In a pot experiment the growth and P uptake either in the presence or absence of Glomus fasciculatum was determined. Under these P-limited conditions it was shown by partitioning the relative growth rate (RGR, in mg g-1 day-1) in the components root weight ratio (RWR, in groots gplant -1), specific P uptake rate (SPUR, in μmol P groots -1 day-1), and P-efficiency (PEFF, in mg μmol P-1), that the increase in RGR of mycorrhizal infected plants was related to an increase in SPUR, and a decrease in RWR and PEFF. P. major ssp. major had a lower RGR (related to a lower PEFF and SPUR) and a higher RWR than P. major ssp. pleiosperma. In a second experiment three inbred lines were compared upon P depletion in a nutrient solution. The P. major ssp. major line had a lower RGR and higher RWR, and a higher accumulation of P in the roots than the P. major ssp. pleiosperma lines under optimal growing conditions. There were no differences among the inbred lines in the relative contribution of inorganic P to the total P concentration in the shoot. The results are discussed in relation to the characteristics of the habitats of the investigated P. major populations.
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Baas, R., Van Beusichem, M.L. Genetic differentiation in Plantago major L. in growth and P uptake under conditions of P limitation. Plant Soil 123, 185–192 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011267
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011267