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Soil fungi underlie a phylogenetic pattern in plant growth responses to nitrogen enrichment
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 20:42 authored by Wooliver, RC, Senior, J, Bradley PottsBradley Potts, Van Nuland, ME, Bailey, JK, Schweitzer, JA- Under increasing anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition, some plant species will thrive while others will not. Previous work has shown that plant phylogeny can predict these responses, and that interactions with mycorrhizal fungi are a mechanism that drives variation in plant responses to N enrichment. Yet, much of this work has ignored the roles of other root‐associated fungi and whole soil fungal communities in driving these responses.
- We tested whether soil fungi mediate responses of plant growth and plant–soil feedbacks (between close and distant plant relatives) to N enrichment by implementing a greenhouse experiment in which we applied factorial treatments of N fertilization, host‐specific soil inocula and fungicide to 15 eucalypt tree species that co‐occur on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, and form two phylogenetic lineages within the subgenus Symphyomyrtus.
- Conspecific‐conditioned soil fungi enhanced growth responses to N enrichment for plants within one lineage (lineage 1) but depressed growth responses to N enrichment for plants within another lineage (lineage 2). Lineage‐specific shifts in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) colonization were consistent with previous evidence that more vs. less successful strategies under N enrichment are those where carbon allocation to mycorrhizal fungi is reduced vs. maintained, respectively. The latter was also accompanied by a stronger reduction in root colonization of non‐filamentous fungi (of unknown function) under N enrichment. Plant–soil feedbacks were neutral for lineage 1 but negative for lineage 2 (i.e. greater growth in soils conditioned by opposite vs. same lineage individuals), but were not altered by N enrichment or fungicide. Lineage‐level differences in root colonization suggest that these feedbacks could be driven by differential plant responsiveness to dark septate endophytes and non‐filamentous fungi, the colonization of which seemed to benefit plant growth.
- Synthesis: Our results confirm that interactions with soil fungi (ECM fungi, in particular) underlie phylogenetic patterns in tree species' growth responses to N enrichment and may, thus, influence which plants win or lose under future N deposition scenarios. Yet, we provide some of the first evidence (albeit from controlled rather than natural conditions) that N deposition may not play a strong role in shifting plant–soil feedbacks.
History
Publication title
Journal of EcologyVolume
106Issue
6Pagination
2161-2175ISSN
0022-0477Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Blackwell Publishing LtdPlace of publication
9600 Garsington Rd, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox4 2DgRights statement
© 2018 The Authors.Repository Status
- Restricted
