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Plant neighbor effects mediated by rhizosphere factors along a simulated aridity gradient

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Abstract

Aims

We investigated how rhizosphere factors (total rhizosphere, roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae [AMF], and soil solution) and water availability affect interactions between neighboring Medicago sativa plants.

Methods

A three-compartment mesocosm was used to test the effects of rhizosphere factors on plant–plant interactions. A relative interaction index (RII) was calculated to indicate whether effects of neighbor plant on target plant were positive or negative (facilitative or competitive). Isotope tracers were used to test whether AMF hyphae mediated competition for nitrogen (N) between target and neighbor plants.

Results

The effects of rhizosphere factors on the interactions between neighboring M. sativa plants depended on water availability. The effects of total rhizosphere shifted RII from negative to positive as water availability increased. Interaction with the roots and rhizosphere soil solution of neighbor plants shifted RII from negative to positive as water availability increased but the opposite was true for AMF hyphae. AMF hyphae helped neighbor plants compete for 15N when water was available but not when water was limiting.

Conclusions

The effect of total rhizosphere on plant–plant interaction of M. sativa shifted from competitive to facilitative as water availability increased. Competition was reduced by neighboring soil solution and roots but was increased by AMF hyphae.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, No. 31070389, 30870405) and the Key Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China (No. KYJD09021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, No. 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Haishui Yang, Zhenxing Yu, Qian Zhang, Jianjun Tang & Xin Chen

  2. Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China

    Qian Zhang

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  1. Haishui Yang
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  2. Zhenxing Yu
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  3. Qian Zhang
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  4. Jianjun Tang
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  5. Xin Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin Chen.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: N. Jim Barrow.

Haishui Yang, Zhenxing Yu and Qian Zhang contributed equally to this paper.

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Yang, H., Yu, Z., Zhang, Q. et al. Plant neighbor effects mediated by rhizosphere factors along a simulated aridity gradient. Plant Soil 369, 165–176 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1565-0

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