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In soil, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) meet the roots of both host and presumed nonhost plants, but the interactional mechanisms of AMF with and functional relevance for nonhost plants is little known. Here we show AMF can colonize an individually grown nonhost plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, and suppress the growth of Arabidopsis and two nonhost Brassica crops. This inhibitory effect increased with increasing AMF inoculum density, and was independent of AMF species or nutrient availability. 13C isotope labeling and physiological analyses revealed no significant carbon‒phosphorus exchange between Arabidopsis and AMF, indicating a lack of nutritional function in this interaction. AMF colonization activated the danger‐associated peptide Pep‐PEPR signaling pathway, and caused clear defense responses in Arabidopsis. The impairment of Pep‐PEPR signaling in nonhost plants greatly compromised AMF‐triggered defensive responses and photosynthesis suppression, leading to higher colonization rates and reduced growth suppression upon AMF inoculation. Pretreatment with Pep peptide decreased AMF colonization, and largely substituted for AMF‐induced growth suppression in nonhosts, confirming that the Pep‐PEPR pathway is a key participant in resistance to AMF colonization and in mediating growth suppression of nonhost plants. This work greatly increases our knowledge about the functional relevance of AMF and their mechanisms of interactions with nonhost plants. Summary Statement: There is no significant carbon and phosphorus exchange between AMF and colonized nonhost plant Arabidopsis thaliana. AMF activated the danger‐associated peptide Pep‐PEPR signaling pathway, which acted as a key participant in resistance to AMF colonization and in mediating growth suppression of nonhost plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-economic values of fertile and carbon-rich Dark Earth soils are well described from the Amazon region. Very recently, Dark Earth soils were also identified in tropical West Africa, with comparable beneficial soil properties and plant growth-promoting effects. The impact of this management technique on soil microbial communities, however, is less well understood, especially with respect to the ecologically relevant group of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Thus, we tested the hypotheses that (1) improved soil quality in African Dark Earth (AfDE) will increase soil microbial biomass and shift community composition and (2) concurrently increased nutrient availability will negatively affect AM fungal communities. Microbial communities were distinct in AfDE in comparison to adjacent sites, with an increased fungal:bacterial ratio of 71%, a pattern mainly related to shifts in pH. AM fungal abundance and diversity, however, did not differ despite clearly increased soil fertility in AfDE, with 3.7 and 1.7 times greater extractable P and total N content, respectively. The absence of detrimental effects on AM fungi, often seen following applications of inorganic fertilizers, and the enhanced role of saprobic fungi relevant for mineralization and C sequestration support previous assertions of this management type as a sustainable alternative agricultural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Fine roots and mycorrhiza often represent the largest input of carbon (C) into soils and are therefore of primary relevance to the soil C balance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have previously been found to increase litter decomposition which may lead to reduced soil C stocks, but these studies have focused on immediate decomposition of relatively high amounts of high-quality litter and may therefore not hold in many ecological settings over longer terms. 2. Here, we assessed the effect of mycorrhizal fungi on the fate of C and nitrogen (N) contained within a realistic amount of highly 13C-/15N-labelled root litter in soil. This litter was either added fresh or after a 3-month incubation period under field conditions to a hyphal in-growth core where mycorrhizal abundance was either reduced or not through rotation. After 3 months of incubation with a plant under glasshouse conditions, the effect of turning cores on residual 13C and 15N inside the cores was measured, as well as 13C incorporation in microbial signature fatty acids and 15N incorporation of plants. 3. Turning of cores increased the abundance of fungal decomposers and 13C loss from cores, while 15N content of cores and plants was unaffected. Despite the difference in disturbance that turning the cores could have caused, the results suggest that mycorrhizal fungi and field incubation of litter acted to additively increase the proportion of 13C left in cores. 4. Synthesis. Apart from stimulating litter decomposition as previously shown, mycorrhizas can also stabilize C during litter decomposition and this effect is persistent through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined combined effects of biochar, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and salinity on plant growth and physiology to test whether and how biochar influences AM fungi mediated growth and nutrition enhancements, and whether and how biochar provides amelioration in salt stressed soils. We carried out a full three-factorial greenhouse experiment with Lactuca sativa ; and a second study with a wider range of biochar and salt additions to examine physicochemical effects on soil parameters. Biochar together with AM fungal inoculation resulted in an additional plant yield increase compared to each alone under non-saline conditions. In parallel with increased plant growth, we found increased uptake of P and Mn with AM fungi and biochar addition, but to a lesser extent than biochar-induced growth promotion. Both factors, but especially biochar alleviated salinity-caused growth depressions, and improved Na/K ratio in salinity stressed plants. Reduced Na uptake of plants and reduced conductivity in biochar-ameliorated soils suggest that a likely mechanism involves ion adsorption to biochar surfaces. Our results suggest that plants depend on symbiotic microorganisms to fully exploit biochar benefits in soils, suggesting avenues for joint management in agriculture. Biochar may be advantageous in saline soils, but long-term studies are required before recommendations should be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a key role in plant phosphate (Pi) uptake by their efficient capture of soil phosphorus (P) that is transferred to the plant via Pi transporters in the root cortical cells. The activity of this mycorrhizal Pi uptake pathway is often associated with downregulation of Pi transporter genes in the direct Pi uptake pathway. As the total Pi taken up by the plant is determined by the combined activity of mycorrhizal and direct pathways, it is important to understand the interplay between these, in particular the actual activity of the pathways. To study this interplay we modulated the delivery of Pi via the mycorrhizal pathway in Pisum sativum by two means: (1) Partial downregulation by virus‐induced gene silencing of PsPT4, a putative Pi transporter gene in the mycorrhizal pathway. This resulted in decreased fungal development in roots and soil and led to reduced plant Pi uptake. (2) Changing the percentage of AMF‐colonized root length by using non‐, half‐mycorrhizal or full‐mycorrhizal split‐root systems. The combination of split roots, use of 32P and 33P isotopes and partial silencing of PsPT4 enabled us to show that the expression of PsPT1, a putative Pi transporter gene in the direct pathway, was negatively correlated with increasing mycorrhizal uptake capacity of the plant, both locally and systemically. However, transcript changes in PsPT1 were not translated into corresponding, systemic changes in actual direct Pi uptake. Our results suggest that AMF have a limited long‐distance impact on the direct pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glomalin is a glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and the soil fraction containing glomalin is correlated with soil aggregation. Thus, factors potentially influencing glomalin production could be of relevance for this ecosystem process and for understanding AM fungal physiology. Previous work indicated that glomalin production in AM fungi may be a stress response, or related to suboptimal mycelium growth. We show here that environmental stress can enhance glomalin production in the mycelium of the AM fungus Glomus intraradices. We applied NaCl and glycerol in different intensities to the medium in which the fungus was grown in vitro, causing salinity stress and osmotic stress, respectively. As a third stress type, we simulated grazing on the extraradical hyphae of the fungus by mechanically injuring the mycelium by clipping. NaCl caused a strong increase, while the clipping treatment led to a marginally significant increase in glomalin production. Even though salinity stress includes osmotic stress, we found substantially different responses in glomalin production due to the NaCl and the glycerol treatment, as glycerol addition did not cause any response. Thus, our results indicate that glomalin is involved in inducible stress responses in AM fungi for salinity, and possibly grazing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are root symbionts that enhance plant growth and improve soil fertility and soil structure in drylands. Even though AM fungi are obligate biotrophs, organic matter (OM) can stimulate their growth, but the mechanisms behind this are still unknown. Here, we compared the effect of nutrient patches of different OM sources to intrinsic components of OM such as inorganic nutrient supply and an improved soil water-holding capacity (WHC; via application of hydrophilic polymers), on AM fungal growth. Fatty acids extracted from in-growth mesh bags incubated in the field were used as biomarkers for AM fungi and other soil microbes. We found an enhancement of AM fungal growth in certain nutrient patches. Two out of three OM types stimulated AM fungal growth strongly, and also the addition of inorganic nutrients enhanced AM fungi, though to a lesser extent than OM. Enhanced soil WHC, on the other hand, did not influence AM fungal growth. AMF were more strongly enhanced by the mineral nutrients relative to other soil organisms. Intrinsic nutrients might be an important factor for AMF growth stimulation in OM additions, but there was no evidence that nutrients alone can explain this phenomenon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated element accumulation in vesicles of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices, extracted from the roots of inoculated leek plants. The elemental composition (elements heavier than Mg) was quantified using particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), in combination with scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM). In vesicles, P was the most abundant of the elements analysed, followed by Ca, S, Si and K. We analysed 12 vesicles from two root systems and found that the variation between vesicles was particularly high for P and Si. The P content related positively to Si, Zn and K, while its relation to Cl fitted to a negative power function. Vesicle transects showed that P and K were present in central parts, while Ca was present mainly near the vesicle surfaces. The results showed that P is an important part (0.5% of the dry weight) of the vesicle content and that the distribution of some elements, within mycelia, may be strongly correlated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented related to the fungi arbuscular mycorrhizal.