DIFFERENCES AMONG MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI FOR MINERAL UPTAKE PER ROOT LENGTH OF SWITCHGRASS GROWN IN ACIDIC SOIL

Authors

R. B. ClarkFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2002

Comments

Published in JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION, 25(8), 1753–1772 (2002).

Abstract

Plants commonly encounter deficient and=or toxic levels of mineral elements when grown in acidic soil, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have potential to overcome many of these effects. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was grown in acidic Lily soil (Typic Hapludult) at pH_Ca 4 and 5 (soil : 10mM CaCl₂, 1 : 1) and inoculated with Glomus (G.) clarum, G. diaphanum, G. etunicatum, G. intraradices, Gigaspora (Gi.) albida, Gi. margarita, Gi. rosea, and Acaulospora (A.) morrowiae to determine differences among mycorrhizal (AM) plants for mineral uptake per root length (RL). Shoots of AM plants grown in pH_Ca 4 and 5 soil had extensive mineral nutrient content (per plant) differences, and AM plants grown in pH_Ca 4 soil generally had higher and wider ranges of mineral contents than plants grown in pH_Ca 5 soil. Mineral uptake per RL varied extensively among AM plants. The AM plants generally enhanced uptake of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and reduced uptake of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), boron (B), and aluminum (Al). The G. etunicatum plants particularly had higher P, N, S, K, Mg, Zn, and Cu uptake compared to the other AM plants. Most AMF isolates used were effective in enhancing mineral uptake and reducing excess amounts of toxic elements in shoots.