You are what you get from your fungi: nitrogen stable isotope patterns in Epipactis species.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Partially mycoheterotrophic plants are enriched in 13 C and 15 N compared to autotrophic plants. Here, it is hypothesized that the type of mycorrhizal fungi found in orchid roots is responsible for variation in 15 N enrichment of leaf tissue in partially mycoheterotrophic orchids.

Methods

The genus Epipactis was used as a case study and carbon and nitrogen isotope abundances of eight Epipactis species, fungal sporocarps of four Tuber species and autotrophic references were measured. Mycorrhizal fungi were identified using molecular methods. Stable isotope data of six additional Epipactis taxa and ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic basidiomycetes were compiled from the literature.

Key results

The 15 N enrichment of Epipactis species varied between 3·2

SUBMITTER: Schiebold JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5604585 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature