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Relationship Between Arbuscular Mycorrhizas and Plant Growth: Improvement or Depression?

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Root Biology

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 52))

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are a kind of beneficial microorganisms in soils, which can establish symbiotic association with ~80% of terrestrial plants, namely, arbuscular mycorrhizas. The symbiosis possesses bidirectional roles in mycorrhizal fungi and host plants: host plants provide photosynthates for the fungal partner; mycorrhizal fungi absorb water and nutrients from soils to plant partner. Mycorrhizal symbiosis has a typical effect on growth performance of host plants. In general, arbuscular mycorrhizas show a promoted effect on plant growth by means of increasing water and nutrient acquisition, soil improvement, phytohormone regulation, and root morphological improvement. Occasionally, no or depressed effects of mycorrhizas on plant growth are reported. The growth depression under mycorrhization may be due to the more carbon expenditure of mycorrhizas, the nutrient status of growth substrates, and root hair status. Essentially, mycorrhizal effects on plant growth are involved in mutualistic or parasitic association. This chapter provides the explanation regarding the improved or depressed effect of arbuscular mycorrhizas in plant growth. The future prospects are proposed.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Plan in Scientific and Technological Innovation Team of Outstanding Young Scientist, Hubei Provincial Department of Education (T201604).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China

    Li-Hui Lü, Ying-Ning Zou & Qiang-Sheng Wu

  2. Institute of Root Biology, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China

    Li-Hui Lü, Ying-Ning Zou & Qiang-Sheng Wu

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  1. Li-Hui Lü
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Swami Shraddhanand College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Bhoopander Giri

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ram Prasad

  3. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Lü, LH., Zou, YN., Wu, QS. (2018). Relationship Between Arbuscular Mycorrhizas and Plant Growth: Improvement or Depression?. In: Giri, B., Prasad, R., Varma, A. (eds) Root Biology. Soil Biology, vol 52. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75910-4_18

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