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Seed phosphorus (P) content affects growth, and P uptake of wheat plants and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi

Plant and Soil volume 231, pages 105–112 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out in a growth chamber and a naturally lit glasshouse to investigate the influence of seed phosphorus (P) reserves on growth and P uptake by wheat plants (Triticum aestivum cv Krichauff), and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Increased seed P reserves improved plant growth at a range of P supply up to over 100 mg P kg−1 soil. Plants grown from seeds with high P reserves tended to accumulate more P from soil, which was mainly attributed to better root system development. Mycorrhizal colonisation did not significantly affect P uptake of plants grown with low irradiance (in growth chamber). However, in the naturally lit glasshouse, mycorrhizal plants had significantly higher P concentrations than non-mycorrhizal plants. Furthermore, mycorrhizal plants grown from seeds low in P accumulated similar amounts of P compared with those grown from seeds with high P, indicating that mycorrhizal colonisation may overcome the disadvantage of having low seed P reserves in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding; Centre for Plant Root Symbioses and Department of Soil and Water, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA5064, Australia

    Y-G. Zhu & S. E. Smith

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  1. Y-G. Zhu
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  2. S. E. Smith
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Correspondence to Y-G. Zhu.

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Zhu, YG., Smith, S.E. Seed phosphorus (P) content affects growth, and P uptake of wheat plants and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plant and Soil 231, 105–112 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010320903592

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010320903592

  • growth response
  • mycorrhiza
  • phosphorus uptake
  • seed phosphorus reserves
  • Triticum aestivum