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Arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization and development at suboptimal root zone temperature

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Abstract

Temperature has a strong influence on the activity of living organisms. This study, involving two indoor experiments, evaluated the effects of root zone temperature (10, 15 and 23°C) on the formation and development of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). In the first trial, greenhouse-grown sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was either colonized by Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith or left non-mycorrhizal. Root length, root and shoot weight and root colonization were measured after 5, 10 and 15 weeks of plant growth. Although suboptimal root zone temperatures reduced growth in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, mycorrhizal plants were larger than non-mycorrhizal plants after 15 weeks at 15 and 23°C. At suboptimal root zone temperatures, mycorrhizal inoculation sometimes slightly reduced root development. AM colonization was more affected than root growth at suboptimal root zone temperatures. Colonization was markedly reduced at 15°C compared with 23°C, and almost completely inhibited at 10°C. The second experiment was conducted in vitro using transformed carrot (Daucus carota L.) roots supporting G. intraradices. Mycelium length and spore number were measured weekly for 15 weeks. Spore metabolic activity (iodonitrotetrazolium reduction), root length and percentage root colonization were measured after 15 weeks. G. intraradices sporulation was reduced at temperatures below 23°C, while spore metabolic activity was significantly reduced only at 10°C. Root length and in particular percentage colonization were decreased at suboptimal temperatures. A negative interaction between AM hyphal growth and root growth resulting in reduced probability of contact at suboptimal root zone temperatures is proposed to explain the greater reduction observed in root colonization than in root and hyphal growth.

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  1. Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada

    A. Liu, B. Wang & C. Hamel

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  1. A. Liu
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  2. B. Wang
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  3. C. Hamel
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Correspondence to A. Liu.

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Liu, A., Wang, B. & Hamel, C. Arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization and development at suboptimal root zone temperature. Mycorrhiza 14, 93–101 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-003-0242-9

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