Relatedness among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drives plant growth and intraspecific fungal coexistence.

ABSTRACT: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with most plant species. They are ecologically important determinants of plant growth and diversity. Considerable genetic variation occurs in AMF populations. Thus, plants are exposed to AMF of varying relatedness to each other. Very little is known about either the effects of coexisting AMF on plant growth or which factors influence intraspecific AMF coexistence within roots. No studies have addressed whether the genetics of coexisting AMF, and more specifically their relatedness, influences plant growth and AMF coexistence. Relatedness is expected to influence coexistence between individuals, and it has been suggested that decreasing ability of symbionts to coexist can have negative effects on the growth of the host. We tested the effect

SUBMITTER: Roger A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3806264 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature