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

URCELAY, C; VAIERETTI MV; PÉREZ, M.; DÍAZ, S. M.

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Elsevier

Año: 2010 vol. 43 p. 466 - 468

0038 0717

We studied the decomposition of shoot and root tissues of four plant species from central Argentinabelonging to contrasting functional types: a deciduous shrub (Acacia caven), a perennial forb (Hyptismutabilis), an annual forb (Bidens pilosa) and a tussock grass (Jarava pseudoichu). They were grown fromseed in a greenhouse in isolation or in 2- or 4-species mixtures, with and without arbuscular mycorrhizalfungi (AMF), and then placed to decompose under natural conditions in the field. AMF significantlyenhanced decomposition of shoots, but not that of roots, independently of species identity and speciesmixturecomposition. Our results suggest that AMF may be significantly affecting ecosystem functioningthrough the observed plant-mediated effects on decomposition.