Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter above- and below-ground chemical defense expression differentially among Asclepias species.

ABSTRACT: Below-ground (BG) symbionts of plants can have substantial influence on plant growth and nutrition. Recent work demonstrates that mycorrhizal fungi can affect plant resistance to herbivory and the performance of above- (AG) and BG herbivores. Although these examples emerge from diverse systems, it is unclear if plant species that express similar defensive traits respond similarly to fungal colonization, but comparative work may inform this question. To examine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the expression of chemical resistance, we inoculated 8 species of Asclepias (milkweed)-which all produce toxic cardenolides-with a community of AMF. We quantified plant biomass, foliar and root cardenolide concentration and composition, and assessed evidence for a growth-defense tr

SUBMITTER: Vannette RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3776932 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature