SCI 337

Different plant species can be compatible with the same species of mycorrhizal fungi and be connected to one another by a common mycelium. Transfer of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus through interconnecting mycelia has been measured frequently in laboratory experiments, but it is not known whether transfer is bidirectional, whether there is a net gain by one plant over its connected partner, or whether transfer affects plant performance in the field. Laboratory studies using isotope tracers show that the magnitude of one-way transfer can be influenced by shading of ‘receiver’ plants fertilization of ‘donor’ plants with phosphorus, or use of nitrogen-fixing donor plants and non-nitrogen-fixing receiver plants indicating that movement may be governed by source–sink relationships. Here we use reciprocal isotope labelling in the field to demonstrate bidirectional carbon transfer between the ectomycorrhizal tree species Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii, resulting in net carbon gain by P. menziesii. Thuja plicata seedlings lacking ectomycorrhizae absorb small amounts of isotope, suggesting that carbon transfer between B. papyrifera and P. menziesii is primarily through the direct hyphal pathway. Net gain by P. menziesii seedlings represents on average 6% of carbon isotope uptake through photosynthesis. The magnitude of net transfer is influenced by shading of P. menziesii, indicating that source–sink relationships regulate such carbon transfer under field conditions.

(Description Source: Nature) 1997 (6642).

Authors

Melanie Jones is a professor of Biology at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. She’s been a professor in Biology since 1990, starting at Okanagan University College. She teaches Plant Ecophysiology, and Field Ecology of Plants and Soils. Her research program focusses on the ecophysiology of ectomycorrhizal plants in BC forests, and on soil carbon in orchard and vineyard soils.

Daniel M. Durall is an associate professor of Biology at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. He has been a Biology professor since 1990, starting at Okanagan University College. His teaching and research interests are in mycology. His research group studies forest mycorrhizal ecology, wine yeast, truffle production, and fungi in human microbiome.

Suzanne Simard is a professor in the Forest and Conservation Sciences Department and the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus.

David A. Perry is a researcher in the Forest Science Department at Oregon State University.

David D. Myrold is a researcher in the Crop and Soil Science Department at Oregon State University.

Randy Molina is a researcher for the United States Department of Agriculture.

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