Abstract
AimsGypsum soils are P-limited atypical soils that harbour a rich endemic flora. These singular soils are usually found in drylands, where plant activity and soil nutrient availability are seasonal. No previous studies have analysed the seasonality of P nutrition and its interaction with the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) colonisation in gypsum plants. Our aim was to evaluate the seasonal changes in plant nutrient status, AMF colonisation and rhizospheric soil nutrient availability in gypsum specialist and generalist species.MethodsWe evaluated seasonal variation in the proportion of root length colonised by AMF structures (hyphae, vesicules and arbuscules), plant nutrient status (leaf C, N and P and fine root C and N) and rhizospheric soil content (P, organic matter, nitrate and ammonium) of three gypsum specialists and two generalists throughout a year.ResultsAll species showed arbuscules within roots, including species of Caryophyllaceae and Brassicaceae. Root colonisation by arbuscules (AC) was higher in spring than in other seasons, when plants showed high leaf P-requirements. Higher AC was decoupled from inorganic N and P availability in rhizospheric soil, and foliar nutrient content. Generalists showed higher AC than specialists, but only in spring.ConclusionsSeasonality was found in AMF colonisation, rhizospheric soil content and plant nutrient status. The mutualism between plants and AMF was highest in spring, when P-requirements are higher for plants, especially in generalists. However, AMF decoupled from plant demands in autumn, when nutrient availability increases in rhizospheric soil.
Highlights
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the most common limiting nutrients in a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems (Vitousek et al 2010)
Seasonality was found in arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) colonisation, rhizospheric soil content and plant nutrient status
The mutualism between plants and AMF was highest in spring, when P-requirements are higher for plants, especially in generalists
Summary
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the most common limiting nutrients in a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems (Vitousek et al 2010). In the case of nutrient-poor environments as drylands, plants have frequently evolved a retention strategy versus a rapid growth strategy, affecting acquisition, use, storage and resorption of nutrients (Aerts and Chapin 1999). These nutritional strategies are reflected in plant nutrient concentration (Grime et al 1997), which summarises the functioning of plants in relation to their environment (Peñuelas et al 2019). Plant phenology of perennial species in Mediterranean drylands is characterized by predominant shoot growth in spring, root growth mainly in autumn and flowering in spring and early summer (Orshan 1989; Palacio and Montserrat-Martí 2007). Peak plant demands for N and P may be decoupled from soil availability in Mediterranean drylands
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