Arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions and nutrient supply mediate floral trait variation and pollinator visitation.

ABSTRACT: Floral traits, including floral display and nutritional rewards from pollen and nectar, drive pollinator visitation. Even within a single plant species, environmental factors can influence the quality and quantity of floral resources. Yet, the ecological interactions driving this variation in floral resources, especially those belowground, remain unknown. Here, we investigate how soil microbial community composition and nutrient availability, specifically distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species and phosphorus (P) supply, affect plant growth, AMF traits, floral traits, and how that, in turn, affects bee visitation. We found that increased AMF richness of functional diversity enhanced floral display (flower size and number) and rewards (nectar volume and pollen protein) and incre

SUBMITTER: Guzman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11617648 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature