Aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis and soil nutrient concentrations.

ABSTRACT: Aboveground communication between plants is well known to change defense traits in leaves, but its effects on belowground plant traits and soil characteristics have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis via induction of bactericidal chemical defense substances and changes the soil nutrient environment. Soybean plants were exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from damaged shoots of Solidago canadensis var. scabra, and leaf defense traits (total phenolics, saponins), root saponins, and root nodule symbiosis traits (number and biomass of root nodules) were measured. Soil C/N ratios and mineral concentrations were also measured to estimate the effects of resource uptake by the plants. We found that total phe

SUBMITTER: Takahashi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8209107 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature