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Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity interacts with soil nutrients to predict plant growth despite weak plant-soil feedbacks

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nash, J; Laushman, R; Schadt, C
Published in: Plant and Soil
August 1, 2020

Background and aims: Plant-soil feedbacks are the result of multiple abiotic and biotic mechanisms. However, few studies have addressed how feedbacks vary based on abiotic context or attempted to identify microbiota responsible for feedbacks. We investigated whether plant-soil feedbacks of an ectomycorrhizal tree (Quercus macrocarpa) varied based on soil nutrient status and whether fungal community composition and diversity could explain feedback patterns. Methods: We inoculated Q. macrocarpa seedlings with field-sampled soils taken from five soil origins – including heterospecific and conspecific trees and an old field – which were profiled using fungal DNA metabarcoding. Results: There was a positive home vs. away plant-soil feedback, though feedbacks with individual hosts were not significant regardless of fertilization. Still, hosts harbored distinctive fungal communities that were predictive of plant growth. There was a growth promotive effect of ectomycorrhizal OTU diversity that was weakened with fertilization, suggesting context-dependent relationships between plant growth and a guild of fungal mutualists. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the host-specific accumulation of functionally important soil microbes is not always sufficient to drive species level plant-soil feedbacks. Our data provide support for a role of ECM fungal diversity in mediating plant growth responses, though it is unclear whether this effect was direct or indirect.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Plant and Soil

DOI

EISSN

1573-5036

ISSN

0032-079X

Publication Date

August 1, 2020

Volume

453

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

445 / 458

Related Subject Headings

  • Agronomy & Agriculture
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

Citation

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Nash, J., Laushman, R., & Schadt, C. (2020). Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity interacts with soil nutrients to predict plant growth despite weak plant-soil feedbacks. Plant and Soil, 453(1–2), 445–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04616-y
Nash, J., R. Laushman, and C. Schadt. “Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity interacts with soil nutrients to predict plant growth despite weak plant-soil feedbacks.” Plant and Soil 453, no. 1–2 (August 1, 2020): 445–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04616-y.
Nash, J., et al. “Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity interacts with soil nutrients to predict plant growth despite weak plant-soil feedbacks.” Plant and Soil, vol. 453, no. 1–2, Aug. 2020, pp. 445–58. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s11104-020-04616-y.
Nash J, Laushman R, Schadt C. Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity interacts with soil nutrients to predict plant growth despite weak plant-soil feedbacks. Plant and Soil. 2020 Aug 1;453(1–2):445–458.
Journal cover image

Published In

Plant and Soil

DOI

EISSN

1573-5036

ISSN

0032-079X

Publication Date

August 1, 2020

Volume

453

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

445 / 458

Related Subject Headings

  • Agronomy & Agriculture
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences