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The stimulating effect of apatite on ectomycorrhizal growth diminishes after PK fertilization

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Author

Summary, in English

The objective of this study was to test if apatite amendment stimulates growth of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi and if this is influenced by the phosphorus status of the forest. The production of EM mycelia was estimated in four Norway spruce forests in south-western Sweden by incubating sand-filled mesh bags (with or without apatite amendment) in the soil for 8 or 20 months. Fungal biomass in the mesh bags was estimated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Subplots of the forests were fertilized with phosphorus and potassium to alleviate possible deficiencies of these elements. The addition of apatite had a positive influence on the growth of EM mycelia but this effect diminished when the forests were fertilized with PK. The extent of the EM growth response to apatite was strongly correlated to the needle P status which supports the view that the forest trees regulate growth of EM fungi in response to P source in the soil. Rare earth elements originating from the apatite accumulated in ectomycorrhizal root tips surrounding the mesh bags but no differences in concentration were found between root tips from control and PK fertilized plots. The potential of EM fungi to reduce phosphorus deficiency in phosphorus poor forests by increasing weathering rates is discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publishing year

2008

Language

English

Pages

2517-2522

Publication/Series

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Volume

40

Issue

10

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Engineering

Keywords

  • Phosphorus fertilization
  • Mesh bags
  • Norway spruce
  • External mycelia
  • Apatite
  • Weathering
  • Ectomycorrhiza

Status

Published

Project

  • Ectomycorrhizal fungi and apatite weathering

Research group

  • Microbial Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0038-0717