Abstract
The effect of ferulic acid, an allelochemical produced by asparagus, on hyphal elongation and colonization of asparagus byG. fasciculatum was studied. Spore germination in vitro was not affected, but hyphal elongation decreased significantly with increasing ferulic acid concentration. In the greenhouse, mycorrhizal colonization of roots and growth of mycorrhizal asparagus decreased significantly with increasing ferulic acid concentration, while growth of nonmycorrhizal plants was not affected by ferulic acid. Although plant tissue phosphorus levels were not affected by ferulic acid or mycorrhizal status, ferulic acid inhibition of hyphal elongation in vitro and fungal root colonization in vivo suggests that production of ferulic acid by asparagus reduces the symbiotic effectiveness of the fungus and subsequently reduces plant growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azcon, R., Marin, A.D., andBarea, J.M. 1978. Comparative role of phosphate in soil or inside the host on the formation and effects of endomycorrhiza.Plant Soil 49:561–567.
Bartlett, G.R., 1959. Phosphorus assays in column chromatography.J. Biol. Chem. 234:466–468.
Becker, M., andBennett, P. 1980. Proprietes allelopathiques d'une graminee forestiere: La grand fetuque (Festuca silvatica Vill.). Pages 451–460,in Proc. 6th International Colloquium on Weed Ecology, Biology, and Systematics. COLUMA-EWRS, Montpellier (Vol. II).
Black, R.L.B., andTinker, P.B. 1977. Interaction between effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae and fertilizer phosphorus on yields of potatoes in the field.Nature 267:510–511.
Chano, D.C.N. 1984. Responses of asparagus seedlings to threeGlomus endomycorrhizal fungi. tProc. 6th North American Conference on Mycorrhizae. Bend, Oregon, Forest Research Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon, p. 369.
Chu-Chou, M. 1978. Effects of root residues on growth ofPinus radiata seedlings and a mycorrhizal fungus.Ann. Appl. Biol. 90:407–416.
Damicone, J.P., Cooley, D.R., andManning, W.J. 1981. Benomyl in acetone eradicatesFusarium moniliforme andFusarium oxysporum from asparagus seed.Plant Dis. 65:892–893.
Del Moral, R., Willis, R.J., andAshton, D.H. 1978. Suppression of coastal heath vegetation byEucalyptus baxteri.Aust. J. Bot. 26:203–220.
Elias, K.S., andSafir, G.R. 1987. Hyphal elongation ofGlomus fasciculatus in response to root exudates.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53:1928–1933.
Glass, A.D.M. 1973. Influence of phenolic acids on ion uptake. I. Inhibition of phosphate uptake.Plant Physiol. 51:1037–1041.
Graham, J.H., andMenge, J.A. 1982. Influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae and soil phosphorus on take-all disease of wheat.Phytopathology 72:95–98.
Hartung, A.C. 1987. Allelopathic potential of asparagus (Aparagus officinalis L.). PhD dissertation. Michigan State University, East Lansing, 142 pp.
Hussey, R.B., Peterson, R.L., andTiessen, H. 1984. Interactions between vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza and asparagus.Plant Soil 79:403–416.
Kiernan, J.M., Hendrix, J.W., andMaronek, D.M. 1983. Fertilizer-induced pathogenicity of mycorrhizal fungi to sweetgum seedlings.Soil Biol. Biochem. 15:257–262.
Kovacic, D.A., St. John, T.V., andDyer, M.I. 1984. Lack of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum in a Ponderosa pine forest.Ecology 65:1755–1759.
MacDonald, R.M. 1981. Routine production of axenic vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas.New Phytol. 89:87–93.
McClure, P.R., Gross, H.D., andJackson, W.A. 1978. Phosphate absorption by soybean varieties: the influence of ferulic acid.Can. J. Bot. 56:764–767.
Ohms, R.E. 1957. A flotation method for collecting spores of a phycomycetous mycorrhizal parasite from soil.Phytopathology 47:751–752.
Persidsky, D.J., Loewenstein, H., andWilde, S.A. 1965. Effect of extracts of prairie soils and prairie grass roots on the respiration of ectotrophic mycorrhizae.Agron. J. 57:311–312.
Phillips, J.M., andHayman, D.S. 1970. Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection.Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 55:158–160.
Powell, C.L. andBagyaraj, D.J. 1983. VA mycorrhizae and asparagus.Proc. Agron. Soc. N.Z. 13:107–109.
Rice, E.L. 1984. Allelopathy. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida. 422 pp.
Schenck, N.C., Siqueira, J.O., andOliviera, E. 1987. Incidence of VA mycorrhizal fungi in native and cultivated Brazilian soils.Phytopathology 77:1736 (abstract).
Wacker, T.L. 1988. The role of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) agroecosystem. MS thesis. Michigan State University, East Lansing, 101 pp.
Yang, Hsu-Jen. 1982. Autotoxicity ofAsparagus officinalis L.J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 107:860–862.
Young, C.C. 1984. Autointoxication in root exudates ofAsparagus officinalis L.Plant Soil 82:247–253.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article Number 13065.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wacker, T.L., Safir, G.R. & Stephens, C.T. Effects of ferulic acid onGlomus fasciculatum and associated effects on phosphorus uptake and growth of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). J Chem Ecol 16, 901–909 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016499
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016499