Plant life span and response to inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: I. Annual versus perennial grasses

Boerner, REJ

HERO ID

10285665

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1992

Language

English

HERO ID 10285665
In Press No
Year 1992
Title Plant life span and response to inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: I. Annual versus perennial grasses
Authors Boerner, REJ
Journal Mycorrhiza
Volume 1
Page Numbers 153-161
Abstract To determine the relative responsiveness to and dependency on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) of annual and perennial plants, this study compared the responses of congeneric, sympatric pairs of species in the grass genera Panicum and Bromus to inoculation with two VAM fungal isolates from the genus Glomus. When inoculated with G. intraradices, the perennials P. virgatum and B. inermus showed significantly greater response at both high and low phosphorus (P) than did the annuals P. capillare and B. secalinus. Responsiveness of perennials was significant at both P levels, whereas annuals responded significantly only at low P. Neither Bromus species responded strongly to inoculation with G. etunicatum. Overall, the perennial grasses were more responsive and dependent than were the annuals. A survey of 26 studies including 84 plant-VAM fungus combinations yielded similar patterns of responsiveness in relation to P level and plant life span, especially for grasses. The greater responsiveness of perennial grasses to VAM infection must be considered within the suite of life history traits used to erect hypotheses concerning successional replacement of annuals by perennials in graminoid-dominated ecosystems.
Doi 10.1007/BF00203289
Wosid CABI:19932327549
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English