Abstract
Plant ability to withstand acidic soil mineral deficiencies and toxicities can be enhanced by root-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) symbioses. The AMF benefits to plants may be attributed to enhanced plant acquisition of mineral nutrients essential to plant growth and restricted acquisition of toxic elements. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was grown in pHCa (soil:10 mM CaCl2, 1 : 1) 4 and 5 soil (Typic Hapludult) inoculated with Glomus clarum, G. diaphanum, G. etunicatum, G. intraradices, Gigaspora albida, Gi. margarita, Gi. rosea, and Acaulospora morrowiae to determine differences among AMF isolates for mineral acquisition. Shoots of mycorrhizal (AM) plants had 6.2-fold P concentration differences when grown in pHCa 4 soil and 2.9-fold in pHCa 5 soil. Acquisition trends for the other mineral nutrients essential for plant growth were similar for AM plants grown in pHCa 4 and 5 soil, and differences among AMF isolates were generally higher for plants grown in pHCa 4 than in pHCa 5 soil. Both declines and increases in shoot concentrations of N, S, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Mn relative to nonmycorrhizal (nonAM) plants were noted for many AM plants. Differences among AM plants for N and Mg concentrations were relatively small (<2-fold) and were large (2- to 9-fold) for the other minerals. Shoot concentrations of mineral nutrients did not relate well to dry matter produced or to percentage root colonization. Except for Mn and one AMF isolate, shoot concentrations of Mn, Fe, B, and Al in AM plants were lower than in nonAM plants, and differences among AM plants for these minerals ranged from a low of 1.8-fold for Fe to as high as 6.9-fold for Mn. Some AMF isolates were effective in overcoming acidic soil mineral deficiency and toxicity problems that commonly occur with plants grown in acidic soil.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Accepted: 14 June 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clark, R., Zobel, R. & Zeto, S. Effects of mycorrhizal fungus isolates on mineral acquisition by Panicum virgatum in acidic soil. Mycorrhiza 9, 167–176 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005720050302
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005720050302