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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phylogeny-related interactions with a non-host

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Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with most vascular plants including some gymnosperm species. Although species in the gymnosperm family Pinaceae normally develop ectomycorrhizal associations, AMF hyphae and vesicles, typical of members of the Suborder Glomineae, have been reported in the roots of some Pinaceae species. However, it is not known whether AMF belonging to various species and suborders are able to colonize roots of Pinaceae species and to what extent this influences the performance of Pinaceae seedlings. We tested in each of the Glomaceae, Acaulosporaceae and Gigasporineae AMF families two species for their ability to colonize and affect the growth of Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) in the presence or absence of an AMF host plant (Trifolium pretense—red clover). Glomus intraradices was the only AMF that colonized pine roots, predominantly in the presence of clover, forming intracellular hyphae and vesicles but not arbuscules. Colonization, however, did not relate to increased pine biomass and the overall presence of AMF, regardless of colonization abilities, resulted in a biomass reduction. This effect on pine seedling biomass was explained by the AMF family to which the AMF belonged, indicating that the effects of AMF on the non-host pine may be related to phylogeny. Acaulosporaceae species reduced pine biomass the most whereas, Gigasporineae species had the smallest effect on biomass. These preliminary results suggest that AMF may affect the soil microflora differently among AMF families in previously unsuspected ways with potential consequences for non-AMF host growth.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery grant to RLP. We thank Shannon Seahra for her help in processing the roots for microscopy and Rita Veiga for insights into discussion points. We are grateful for comments by the two anonymous reviewers which helped improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecological Farming Systems, Agroscope Reckenholz Tänikon Research Station ART, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046, Zürich, Switzerland

    Cameron Wagg

  2. Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurestrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Cameron Wagg

  3. Department of Biology, Algoma University, 1520 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2G4, Canada

    Pedro Madeira Antunes

  4. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada

    R. Larry Peterson

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  1. Cameron Wagg
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  2. Pedro Madeira Antunes
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  3. R. Larry Peterson
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Correspondence to Cameron Wagg.

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Wagg, C., Antunes, P.M. & Peterson, R.L. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phylogeny-related interactions with a non-host. Symbiosis 53, 41–46 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-011-0107-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-011-0107-5

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