Laccaria bicolor S238N improves Scots pine mineral nutrition by increasing root nutrient uptake from soil minerals but does not increase mineral weathering

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 328; no. 1/2; pp. 145 - 154
• Main Authors: Christophe, Calvaruso, Marie-Pierre, Turpault, Stéphane, Uroz, Elisabeth, Leclerc, Antoine, Kies, Pascale, Frey-Klett
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.03.2010; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological weathering; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotite; Ecology; Economic plant physiology; Ecosystem components; Forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; General agronomy. Plant production; Laccaria bicolor; Life Sciences; Minerals; Nutrients; Nutrition; Pine trees; Pinus sylvestris; Plant nutrition; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plants; Regular Article; Soil fungi; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Vegetal Biology; Ectomycorrhiza; Scots pine; S238N; Biotite; Nutrient uptake; Mineral weathering; Minerals; Pinus sylvestris; Inorganic element; Basidiomycota; Fungi; Absorption; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Symbiosis; Nutrition; Root; Symbiont; Mineral matter; Soils; Vegetative apparatus; Mycorrhiza; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Soil plant relation; Laccaria bicolor S238N; LACCARIA BICOLOR S238N; SCOTS PINE; BIOTITE; MINERAL WEATHERING; ECTOMYCORRHIZA; NUTRIENT UPTAKE
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-009-0092-0

The role of ectomycorrhizal fungi on mineral nutrient mobilization and uptake is crucial for tree nutrition and growth in temperate forest ecosystems. By using a "mineral weathering budget" approach, this study aims to quantify the effect of the symbiosis with the ectomycorrhizal model strain Laccaria bicolor S238N on mineral weathering and tree nutrition, carrying out a column experiment with a quartz/biotite substrate. Each column was planted with one Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) nonmycorrhizal or mycorrhizal with L. bicolor, with exception of the abiotic control treatment. The columns were continuously supplied with a nutrientpoor solution. A mineral weathering budget wa calculated for K and Mg. The pine shoot growth was significantly increased (73%) when plants were mycorrhizal with L. bicolor. Whatever their mycorrhizal status, pines increased mineral weathering by factors 1.5 to 2.1. No difference between non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal pine treatments was revealed, however, mycorrhizal pines assimilated significantly more K and Mg. This suggests that in our experimental conditions, L. bicolor S238N improved shoot growth and K and Mg assimilation in Scots pine mainly by increasing the uptake of dissolved nutrients, linked to a better exploration and exploitation of the soil by the mycorrhizal roots.