Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sample storage conditions alter colonisation structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and, particularly, fine root endophyte

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and Aims

The structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (hyphae, arbuscules, vesicles, spores) are used to make inferences about fungal activity based on stored samples, yet the impact of storage method has not been quantified, despite known effects of temperature and host condition on AM fungal colonisation.

Methods

We measured how four storage treatments (cool or ambient conditions, with and without plant shoots attached, i.e. n = four treatment combinations) affected AM fungal colonisation of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) after 0, 2, 6 and 10 days of storage. Roots were assessed for colonisation of fine root endophyte and coarse AM fungi.

Results

For coarse AM fungi, total colonisation was unaffected, but arbuscules were reduced at Day 6 and increased again by Day 10, except Ambient-Minus-Shoots. There was a loss of vesicles in all treatments at Day 2, and an increase in spore number at Day 6 within Cool-Plus-Shoots. In contrast, for fine root endophyte, total colonisation was greatly reduced at Day 6 but increased again at Day 10, in all except the Cool-Plus-Shoots treatment.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that AM fungal activity is not suspended in commonly used plant storage conditions. Storage method and time impacted AM fungal colonisation, particularly for fine root endophyte. We recommend samples are processed within 2 days of harvest.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott L (1982) Comparative anatomy of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas formed on subterranean clover. Aust J Bot 30:485–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilar-Trigueros CA, Hempel S, Powell JR et al (2015) Branching out: towards a trait-based understanding of fungal ecology. Fungal Biol Rev 29:34–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander T, Meier R, Toth R, Weber HC (1988) Dynamics of arbuscule development and degeneration in mycorrhizas of Triticum aestivum L. and Avena sativa L. with reference to Zea mays L. New Phytol 110:363–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ba L, Ning J, Wang D et al (2012) The relationship between the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and grazing in a meadow steppe. Plant Soil 352:143–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braunberger PG, Abbott LK, Robson AD (1997) Early vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation in soil collected from an annual clover-based pasture in a Mediterranean environment: soil temperature and the timing of autumn rains. Aust J Agric Res 48:103–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brundrett M (2009) Mycorrhizal associations and other means of nutrition of vascular plants: understanding the global diversity of host plants by resolving conflicting information and developing reliable means of diagnosis. Plant Soil 320:37–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brundrett MC, Kendrick B (1988) The mycorrhizal status, root anatomy, and phenology of plants in a sugar maple forest. Can J Bot 66:1153–1173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brundrett M, Bougher N, Dell B, Grove T, Malajczuk N (1996) Working with mycorrhizas in forestry and agriculture. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Crush JR (1974) Plant growth responses to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. VII. Growth and nodulation of some herbage legumes. New Phytol 73:743–752

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denison RF, Kiers ET (2011) Life histories of symbiotic rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. Curr Biol 21:R775–R85

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gianinazzi-Pearson V, Gianinazzi S (1983) The physiology of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal roots. Plant Soil 71:197–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gianinazzi-Pearson V, Morandi D, Dexheimer J, Gianinazzi S (1981) Ultrastructural and ultracytochemical features of a Glomus tenuis mycorrhiza. New Phytol 88:633–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall IR (1977) Species and mycorrhizal infections of New Zealand endogonaceae. Trans Br Mycol Soc 68:341–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayman DS (1983) The physiology of vesicular–arbuscular endomycorrhizal symbiosis. Can J Bot 61:944–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ijdo M, Schtickzelle N, Cranenbrouck S, Declerck S (2010) Do arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with contrasting life-history strategies differ in their responses to repeated defoliation? FEMS Microbiol Ecol 72:114–122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klironomos JN, McCune J, Moutoglis P (2004) Species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affect mycorrhizal responses to simulated herbivory. Appl Soil Ecol 26:133–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur WM, Bettenay E (1959) The soils and irrigation potential of the Pinjarra-Waroona area, Western Australia. CSIRO, Division of Soils, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • McGee PA (1989) Variation in propagule numbers of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a semi-arid soil. Mycol Res 92:28–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGonigle TP, Miller MH, Evans DG, Fairchild GL, Swan JA (1990) A new method which gives an objective measure of colonization of roots by vesicular—arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 115:495–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosse B (1973) Advances in the study of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. Annu Rev Phytopathol 11:171–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newsham KK, Upson R, Read DJ (2009) Mycorrhizas and dark septate root endophytes in polar regions. Fungal Ecol 2:10–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orchard S, Standish RJ, Nicol D, Gupta VV, Ryan MH (2016) The response of fine root endophyte (Glomus tenue) to waterlogging is dependent on host plant species and soil type. Plant Soil. doi:10.1007/s11104-016-2804-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawlowska TE, Douds DD Jr, Charvat I (1999) In vitro propagation and life cycle of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus etunicatum. Mycol Res 103:1549–1556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson JN, Smith SE, Smith FA (1991) Effect of photon irradiance on the development and activity of VA mycorrhizal infection in Allium porrum. Mycol Res 95:741–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peay KG (2014) Back to the future: natural history and the way forward in modern fungal ecology. Fungal Ecol 12:4–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read DJ (1991) Mycorrhizas in ecosystems. Experientia 47:376–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read DJ, Haselwandter K (1981) Observations of the mycorrhizal status of some alpine plant communities. New Phytol 88:341–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saravesi K, Ruotsalainen AL, Cahill JF (2014) Contrasting impacts of defoliation on root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi of Medicago sativa. Mycorrhiza 24:239–245

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schussler A and Walker C (2010) The glomeromycota. A species list with new families and new genera. www.amf-phylogeny.com. Accessed 25 March 2015

  • Shi P, Abbott LK, Banning NC, Zhao B (2012) Comparison of morphological and molecular genetic quantification of relative abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within roots. Mycorrhiza 22:501–513

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shi G, Liu Y, Johnson N et al (2014) Interactive influence of light intensity and soil fertility on root-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 378:173–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simon L, Lalonde M, Bruns TD (1992) Specific amplification of 18S fungal ribosomal genes from vesicular-arbuscular endomycorrhizal fungi colonizing roots. Appl Environ Microbiol 58:291–295

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Smith S, Gianinazzi-Pearson V (1990) Phosphate uptake and arbuscular activity in mycorrhizal Allium cepa L.: effects of photon irradiance and phosphate nutrition. Funct Plant Biol 17:177–188

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith SE, Read DJ (2008) Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Elsevier, Burlington

    Google Scholar 

  • Staddon PL, Fitter AH (2001) The differential vitality of intraradical mycorrhizal structures and its implications. Soil Biol Biochem 33:129–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tester M, Smith FA, Smith SE (1985) Phosphate inflow into Trifolium subterraneum L.: effects of photon irradiance and mycorrhizal infection. Soil Biol Biochem 17:807–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thippayarugs S, Bansal M, Abbott LK (1999) Morphology and infectivity of fine endophyte in a Mediterranean environment. Mycol Res 103:1369–1379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vierheilig H, Coughlan AP, Wyss U, Piche Y (1998) Ink and vinegar, a simple staining technique for arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:5004–5007

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research formed part of a project supported by an Australian Government Postgraduate Award, a Meat and Livestock Australia Postgraduate Scholarship and a Henry Schapper Postgraduate Research Scholarship, and we gratefully acknowledge this funding. We wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Plant Biology, and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

    Suzanne Orchard, D. Nicol & M. H. Ryan

  2. School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    R. J. Standish

  3. Department of Agriculture and Food, Dryland Research Institute, Merredin, WA, 6415, Australia

    D. Nicol

  4. Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand

    I. A. Dickie

Authors
  1. Suzanne Orchard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. J. Standish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Nicol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. A. Dickie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. H. Ryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suzanne Orchard.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Richard J. Simpson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Orchard, S., Standish, R.J., Nicol, D. et al. Sample storage conditions alter colonisation structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and, particularly, fine root endophyte. Plant Soil 412, 35–42 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2867-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2867-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation