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The dual symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhiza and nitrogen fixing bacteria benefits the growth and nutrition of the woody invasive legume Acacia cyclops under nutrient limiting conditions

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Abstract

Background and aims

Acacia cyclops is an invasive species within Mediterranean ecosystems, characteristically low in soil nutrients. Thus associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) may provide an advantage to these legumes. This study investigated the role of AM and NFB in the growth and nutritional physiology of A. cyclops.

Methods

Seedlings were inoculated with naturally occurring NFB, Glomus mosseae or both, and grown under glasshouse conditions for 5 months. Plants were cultivated in sand and supplied with a 20 % strength nutrient solution. Xylem sap nutrients, photosynthetic rates, biomass and chemical compositions, were recorded.

Results

The dual inoculation decreased the colonization of both symbionts, compared to a single symbiosis with either symbiont. Despite low colonization levels, the dual symbiosis increased host biomass and relative growth rates. This was associated with increased photosynthetic rates and enhanced nutrition. Additionally, dual symbiotic plants had enhanced N and P acquisition and utilization rates. Xylem sap analysis showed higher levels of NH +4 being exported from the roots to the shoots in the dual symbiotic plants compared with other treatments.

Conclusions

These findings suggest the dual symbiosis is an important factor in the growth and development of A. cyclops under nutrient limiting conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biogeography, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China

    Peter E. Mortimer

  2. Center for Mountain Ecosystem Studies, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China

    Peter E. Mortimer

  3. World Agroforestry Centre, East Asia, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China

    Peter E. Mortimer & Jianchu Xu

  4. Botany and Zoology Department, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Marcellous R. Le Roux, Aleysia Kleinert & Alexander J. Valentine

  5. Area de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, University Pablo de Olavide, Cartera a Utrera, Km 1, 41013, Seville, Spain

    Maria A. Pérez-Fernández

  6. Genetics and Developmental Biology Program, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, 1090 Agricultural Science Building, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Vagner A. Benedito

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  1. Peter E. Mortimer
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  2. Marcellous R. Le Roux
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  3. Maria A. Pérez-Fernández
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  5. Aleysia Kleinert
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  7. Alexander J. Valentine
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Correspondence to Peter E. Mortimer.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Mortimer, P.E., Le Roux, M.R., Pérez-Fernández, M.A. et al. The dual symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhiza and nitrogen fixing bacteria benefits the growth and nutrition of the woody invasive legume Acacia cyclops under nutrient limiting conditions. Plant Soil 366, 229–241 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1421-2

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