Search

In the field of crop research, the study of roots involves many challenges, particularly the lack of effective methods for identifying crop roots. To deal with this problem, this study proposes a solution strategy: in applying strontium to crop leaves, the roots of different crops are distinguished. In this study, we applied strontium ions to the leaves of hydroponically grown wheat, and these strontium ions were partially absorbed by the leaves and transported to the roots. Therefore, the strontium concentration of roots was significantly increased through the foliar application of strontium. After mixing the treated wheat with the untreated wheat root, the greater the biomass of the wheat root applied with strontium ions, the higher the strontium concentration in the mixed root. Based on this phenomenon, we can establish the relationship between wheat root biomass and strontium concentration in mixed roots through linear fitting. Furthermore, we can also use the relationship between root biomass and root length to establish the correlation between strontium concentration in mixed roots and the root length of wheat with strontium ions. After measuring the strontium concentration of the mixed roots to be distinguished, the root biomass and root length of wheat applied with strontium ions can be calculated according to the equation obtained through linear fitting. The accuracy of this method was verified through a comparison with the actual value and the existing root staining method. The results show that the coefficient of determination (R2) of the root biomass estimation equation obtained through linear fitting reached 0.83, which is statistically significant (p < 0.01). The Pearson correlation coefficient with the measured value was more than 0.9, showing a very high correlation and significance. The root length estimation equation derived from the relationship between the root biomass, strontium concentration and root length was compared with the real root length value and the root length value obtained using the staining method. The Pearson correlation coefficient also exceeded 0.8 and reached a statistically significant level (p < 0.01). This study confirms that strontium ions can be absorbed and transported to roots through wheat leaves and successfully developed a new method for predicting the length of wheat roots, providing an effective new tool for wheat root research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbial biomass (SMB) is a fundamental contributor to soil ecosystem services. Mycorrhizal fungi, a significant group of soil microbes, play essential roles in regulating carbon allocation and nutrient cycles. Acknowledging the profound importance of SMB and mycorrhizal symbiosis, our objective was to explore how mycorrhizal types modulate the global patterns of SMB across varied land use types (LUTs). Using data from 329 independent studies, we categorized vegetation species with defined mycorrhizal types into arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) type (with 958 observations) or mixed AM and ectomycorrhizal (AM + ECM) type (with 481 observations). This categorization served as the foundation for our investigation into the impacts of various LUTs and environmental conditions (mean annual temperature, and mean annual precipitation, MAP) on global SMB patterns associated with specific mycorrhizal associations. The overall mean value of SMB was remarkably higher under AM + ECM type (92.23 ± 4.73 nmol/g) compared with that under AM type (49.45 ± 1.87 nmol/g) at a global scale. The primary factor contributing to this difference was the natural system. Additionally, the AM + ECM type (0.19 ± 0.01) exhibited a higher F:B ratio (Fungi‐to‐bacteria ratio) than the AM type (0.16 ± 0.001), attributed to the cumulative effects of different LUTs. Furthermore, SMB was markedly positively affected by aridity index under AM type and negatively influenced by temperature under AM + ECM type. Besides, MAP had a pronounced positive impact on SMB under AM type, while exhibiting a negative impact under AM + ECM type. Our study presented evidence affirming the essential role of mycorrhizal associations in shaping global patterns of SMB in response to environmental factors across varied LUTs. Key Points: Soil microbial biomass (SMB) was significantly higher under arbuscular mycorrhizal + ectomycorrhizal (AM + ECM) type compared to that under AM type, with this difference being most pronounced in the natural systemAM + ECM type had a higher F:B ratio than the AM type, attributed to the cumulative effects of different LUTsSMB exhibited a notable increase with aridity index under AM type, and a slight yet significant decrease with temperature under AM + ECM type [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and ectomycorrhiza (ECM) are the two most common mycorrhizal types and are paid the most attention to, playing a vital common but differentiated function in terrestrial ecosystems. The leaf carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) is an important factor in understanding the relationship between plants and the environment. In this study, a new database was established on leaf δ13C between AM and ECM plants based on the published data set of leaf δ13C in China's C3 terrestrial plants, which involved 1163 observations. The results showed that the differences in leaf δ13C between AM and ECM plants related closely to life forms. Leaf δ13C of ECM plants was higher than that of AM plants in trees, which was mainly led by the group of evergreen trees. The responses of leaf δ13C to environmental changes were varied between AM and ECM plants. Among the four life forms, leaf δ13C of ECM plants decreased more rapidly than that of AM plants, with an increase of longitude, except for deciduous trees. In terms of the sensitivity of leaf δ13C to temperature changes, AM plants were higher than ECM plants in the other three life forms, although there was no significant difference in evergreen trees. For the response to water conditions, the leaf δ13C of ECM plants was more sensitive than that of AM plants in all life forms, except evergreen and deciduous trees. This study laid a foundation for further understanding the role of mycorrhiza in the relationship between plants and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycorrhizal types are a predictive framework for nutrient cycling within and across ecosystems, and their types represent different nutrient-acquisition strategies for plants. Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric ratios are essential for understanding biogeochemical processes. The purpose of this study was to reflect the balance in the process of plant resource acquisition by exploring the C, N and P stoichiometric ratios (C/N, N/P, and C/P) in shrub organs in different mycorrhizal types. In this study, the C, N, and P stoichiometric ratios in leaves, stems and roots were analyzed in the types of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and AM + ECM of shrubs in Northern China. The results showed that C/N in the stems and roots of AM plants (95.75 and 81.42) was significantly lower than in AM + ECM plants (109.89 and 102.37) and ECM plants (107.67 and 96.93), while both N/P and C/P in the leaves, stems and roots of AM shrubs (38.67, 36.17, 40.69; 1028.14, 2989.13, and 2659.18) were significantly higher than in ECM shrubs (30.52, 22.31, 20.47; 796.51, 2208.28, and 1714.95). Moreover, different elements among the same plant organs were closely correlated, and the same pattern was found among the same element ratios among different plant organs. This suggests that mycorrhizal type can influence C, N and P ratios among different organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]