Subcellular nutrient element localization and enrichment in ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizas of field-grown beech and ash trees indicate functional differences

Mycorrhizas are the chief organ for plant mineral nutrient acquisition. In temperate, mixed forests, ash roots (Fraxinus excelsior) are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) and beech roots (Fagus sylvatica) by ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM). Knowledge on the functions of different mycorrhizal...

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Published in:	PloS one 2014-12, Vol.9 (12), p.e114672-e114672
Main Authors:	Seven, Jasmin, Polle, Andrea
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Arbuscular mycorrhizas Beech Biodiversity Biology and Life Sciences Calcium Cations Clavulina Correlation Deciduous trees Ecology and Environmental Sciences Ecosystem Ectomycorrhizas Electron microscopy Fagus - growth & development Fagus - metabolism Fagus - microbiology Fagus sylvatica Forest ecology Forest ecosystems Forests Fraxinus - growth & development Fraxinus - metabolism Fraxinus - microbiology Fraxinus excelsior Fungi Interspecific Lactarius Lignin Localization Microscopy Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Minerals - analysis Mixed forests Mycorrhizae - physiology National parks Nutrient concentrations Nutrient enrichment Nutrient retention Nutrients Organic chemistry Phosphorus Pinus sylvestris Plant cells Plant Roots - growth & development Plant Roots - metabolism Plant Roots - microbiology Plants - metabolism Plants - microbiology Potassium Roots Sample preparation Soil chemistry Soil properties Species Subcellular Fractions Sulfur Symbiosis Temperate forests Terrestrial ecosystems Transmission electron microscopy Trees Vegetation
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Summary:	Mycorrhizas are the chief organ for plant mineral nutrient acquisition. In temperate, mixed forests, ash roots (Fraxinus excelsior) are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) and beech roots (Fagus sylvatica) by ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM). Knowledge on the functions of different mycorrhizal species that coexist in the same environment is scarce. The concentrations of nutrient elements in plant and fungal cells can inform on nutrient accessibility and interspecific differences of mycorrhizal life forms. Here, we hypothesized that mycorrhizal fungal species exhibit interspecific differences in mineral nutrient concentrations and that the differences correlate with the mineral nutrient concentrations of their associated root cells. Abundant mycorrhizal fungal species of mature beech and ash trees in a long-term undisturbed forest ecosystem were the EcM Lactarius subdulcis, Clavulina cristata and Cenococcum geophilum and the AM Glomus sp. Mineral nutrient subcellular localization and quantities of the mycorrhizas were analysed after non-aqueous sample preparation by electron dispersive X-ray transmission electron microscopy. Cenococcum geophilum contained the highest sulphur, Clavulina cristata the highest calcium levels, and Glomus, in which cations and P were generally high, exhibited the highest potassium levels. Lactarius subdulcis-associated root cells contained the highest phosphorus levels. The root cell concentrations of K, Mg and P were unrelated to those of the associated fungal structures, whereas S and Ca showed significant correlations between fungal and plant concentrations of those elements. Our results support profound interspecific differences for mineral nutrient acquisition among mycorrhizas formed by different fungal taxa. The lack of correlation between some plant and fungal nutrient element concentrations may reflect different retention of mineral nutrients in the fungal part of the symbiosis. High mineral concentrations, especially of potassium, in Glomus sp. suggest that the well-known influence of tree species on chemical soil properties may be related to their mycorrhizal associates.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203