Abstract
Mycorrhizal strategies include mycorrhizal statuses and mycorrhizal types, which are important reflections of the functional characteristics of ecosystems. The stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in plant organs is an important part of ecosystem functions, which has an important impact on the nutrient cycle of the ecosystem. The concentration of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus played a crucial role in ecosystem functioning and dynamics. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical basis and data support for improving the properties of global terrestrial ecosystems by exploring the impact of mycorrhizal strategies on the stoichiometry of C, N, and P in different shrub organs. In this study, stoichiometric patterns of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in different shrub organs under different mycorrhizal status or types were analyzed at 725 samples across Northern China. Results showed that in different mycorrhizal status, the highest carbon concentration in shrub organs appeared in the facultatively mycorrhizal (FM) mycorrhizal status, and the highest nitrogen concentration appeared in the Non-mycorrhizal (NM) mycorrhizal status. Under different mycorrhizal types, the nitrogen concentration in the shrub organs under the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) mycorrhizal type was the highest, and the phosphorus concentration under the ecto-mycorrhiza (ECM) mycorrhizal type was the highest. In the OM or FM mycorrhizal status, the concentrations of C, N, and P in the stems and leaves increase with the increase of the concentrations of C, N, and P in the roots. In the NM mycorrhizal status, the N concentration in the stems and leaves increases with the increase of the N concentration in the roots. Under AM, AM+ECM, and ECM mycorrhizal type, the concentrations of C, N, and P are closely related in roots, stems and leaves. The content of plant nutrients in different organs is closely related. It turned out that mycorrhizal statuses or types are able to alter the allocation of C, N, and P in different organs, and the relationships of C, N, and P among different organs are able to present different trend with the varying of mycorrhizal statuses or types.
Highlights
The stoichiometry in plant leaves, stems, and roots is able to characterize the nutrient restriction status of nutrient elements (Wassen et al, 2005)
The carbon concentration of leaves and stems in different mycorrhizal status of facultatively mycorrhizal (FM), NM, and obligately mycorrhizal (OM) presented the similar trend with the significant lower carbon concentration in the NM species than in OM and FM plants (Figures 1A,B)
No remarkable difference was observed between FM and OM on carbon concentration either leaves or stems
Summary
The stoichiometry in plant leaves, stems, and roots is able to characterize the nutrient restriction status of nutrient elements (Wassen et al, 2005). Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are considered to be important stoichiometry because these elements are the basic elements that form the structure and function of all living things, which coupled strongly in their biochemical processes (Vrede et al, 2004). Previous studies have shown that evolutionary history, environmental stress and plant functional groups are possible factors affecting the stoichiometry of C, N, and P in different organs (Craine et al, 2005; Kerkhoff et al, 2006; Li et al, 2010; Liu et al, 2010). This study considers that different mycorrhizal statuses or types will affect the stoichiometry in different plant organs
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