Aboveground herbivory suppresses the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, reducing plant phosphorus uptake

Most terrestrial plants form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are soil-dwelling microbial symbionts that provide plants with soil nutrients, while plants supply the fungi with carbon. The majority of these plants are also subject to herbivory from insects, thus tripartite i...

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Published inApplied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 168; p. 104133
Main Author Frew, Adam
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.12.2021
Subjects
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Bothriochloa macra
carbon
Carbon-limitation hypothesis
Dichanthium
grasses
Helicoverpa punctigera
Herbivory
host plants
nutrient uptake
Phosphorus
phytophagous insects
root growth
soil
soil ecology
symbionts
Symbiosis
vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae
Symbiosis
Phosphorus
Herbivory
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Carbon-limitation hypothesis
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Summary:Most terrestrial plants form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are soil-dwelling microbial symbionts that provide plants with soil nutrients, while plants supply the fungi with carbon. The majority of these plants are also subject to herbivory from insects, thus tripartite interactions between insect herbivores, plants, and AM fungi are ubiquitous. This study assessed how aboveground herbivory from a generalist insect herbivore (Helicoverpa punctigera) affects the AM symbiosis in two C4 grass species (Bothriochloa macra and Dichanthium sericeum) and the consequences for host plant growth and nutrient uptake. Aboveground herbivory reduced root growth and carbon allocation belowground in both plant species, along with an associated reduction in arbuscular colonisation and phosphorus uptake. These findings suggest that, in accordance with the carbon-limitation hypothesis, herbivory can suppress the AM symbiosis by decreasing carbon belowground, potentially hindering AM fungal-enhanced nutrient acquisition from the soil. •Aboveground herbivory reduced root growth and belowground carbon allocation.•Total and arbuscular fungal colonisation decreased in response to herbivory.•Herbivory reduced phosphorus uptake in plants with AM fungi.
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ISSN:0929-1393
1873-0272
DOI:10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104133