Acquisition and evolution of enhanced mutualism—an underappreciated mechanism for invasive success?

Soil biota can determine plant invasiveness, yet biogeographical comparisons of microbial community composition and function across ranges are rare. We compared interactions between Conyza canadensis, a global plant invader, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in 17 plant populations in each nativ...

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Published in:The ISME Journal 2022-11, Vol.16 (11), p.2467-2478
Main Authors: Sheng, Min, Rosche, Christoph, Al-Gharaibeh, Mohammad, Bullington, Lorinda S, Callaway, Ragan M, Clark, Taylor, Cleveland, Cory C, Duan, Wenyan, Flory, S Luke, Khasa, Damase P, Klironomos, John N, McLeod, Morgan, Okada, Miki, Pal, Robert W, Shah, Manzoor A, Lekberg, Ylva
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arbuscular mycorrhizas
Biota
Community composition
Evolution
Fungi
Greenhouses
Indigenous plants
Indigenous species
Invasiveness
Microorganisms
Mutualism
Plant biomass
Plant populations
Plant species
Populations
Seedlings
Soil fertility
Soil microorganisms
Taxa
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Summary:Soil biota can determine plant invasiveness, yet biogeographical comparisons of microbial community composition and function across ranges are rare. We compared interactions between Conyza canadensis, a global plant invader, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in 17 plant populations in each native and non-native range spanning similar climate and soil fertility gradients. We then grew seedlings in the greenhouse inoculated with AM fungi from the native range. In the field, Conyza plants were larger, more fecund, and associated with a richer community of more closely related AM fungal taxa in the non-native range. Fungal taxa that were more abundant in the non-native range also correlated positively with plant biomass, whereas taxa that were more abundant in the native range appeared parasitic. These patterns persisted when populations from both ranges were grown together in a greenhouse; non-native populations cultured a richer and more diverse AM fungal community and selected AM fungi that appeared to be more mutualistic. Our results provide experimental support for evolution toward enhanced mutualism in non-native ranges. Such novel relationships and the rapid evolution of mutualisms may contribute to the disproportionate abundance and impact of some non-native plant species.
ISSN:1751-7362
1751-7370
DOI:10.1038/s41396-022-01293-w