Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation on shoot and root decomposition of different plant species and species mixtures

URCELAY C; VAIERETTI MV; PEREZ M; DÍAZ SM

SOIL BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2011 vol. 43 p. 466 - 468

0038-0717

Abstract We studied the decomposition of shoot and root tissues of four plant species from central Argentina belonging to contrasting functional types: a deciduous shrub (Acacia caven), a perennial forb (Hyptis mutabilis), an annual forb (Bidens pilosa) and a tussock grass (Jarava pseudoichu). They were grown from seed in a greenhouse in isolation or in 2- or 4-species mixtures, with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and then placed to decompose under natural conditions in the field. AMF significantly enhanced decomposition of shoots, but not that of roots, independently of species identity and speciesmixture composition. Our results suggest that AMF may be significantly affecting ecosystem functioning through the observed plant-mediated effects on decompositionAcacia caven), a perennial forb (Hyptis mutabilis), an annual forb (Bidens pilosa) and a tussock grass (Jarava pseudoichu). They were grown from seed in a greenhouse in isolation or in 2- or 4-species mixtures, with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and then placed to decompose under natural conditions in the field. AMF significantly enhanced decomposition of shoots, but not that of roots, independently of species identity and speciesmixture composition. Our results suggest that AMF may be significantly affecting ecosystem functioning through the observed plant-mediated effects on decomposition), an annual forb (Bidens pilosa) and a tussock grass (Jarava pseudoichu). They were grown from seed in a greenhouse in isolation or in 2- or 4-species mixtures, with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and then placed to decompose under natural conditions in the field. AMF significantly enhanced decomposition of shoots, but not that of roots, independently of species identity and speciesmixture composition. Our results suggest that AMF may be significantly affecting ecosystem functioning through the observed plant-mediated effects on decompositionfield. AMF significantly enhanced decomposition of shoots, but not that of roots, independently of species identity and speciesmixture composition. Our results suggest that AMF may be significantly affecting ecosystem functioning through the observed plant-mediated effects on decompositionficantly affecting ecosystem functioning through the observed plant-mediated effects on decomposition