Record ID No. |
509 |
Author(s) |
Lapointe L., Lerat S. , 2006 |
Affiliation |
University of Laval, Department of Biology, Ste Foy, PQ G1K 7P4, Canada, (email: Line.Lapointe@bio.ulaval.ca) |
Title |
Annual growth of the spring ephemeral Erythronium americanum as a function of temperature and mycorrhizal status |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Canadian journal of botany. 84(1): 39-48p. |
Categories |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza |
Subjects |
Soil plant relations |
Sub-subjects |
Soil temperature |
Host |
Erythronium americanum |
Organism |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) |
Country |
Canada, N.America |
Abstracts |
The capacity of the spring ephemeral Erythronium americanum L. to grow and absorb nutrient either as non-mycorrhizal (NM) or mycorrhizal (M) plants under the low temperature regime characteristic of its growth period was investigated. Specimens of E. americanum were collected in the field as either NM (early September) or as M plants (late October). Both groups of plants were submitted to different nutrient regimes during the hypogeous growth period at 5 degrees C, and during the subsequent epigeous growth period conducted at temperature regimes of either 12 degrees C day : 10 degrees C night or 17 degrees C day : 15 degrees C night. Nutrient regime influenced bulb nutrient content only during the epigeous growth period. The presence of mycorrhizas did not influence nutrient content, but favoured a greater bulb biomass at the final harvest (epigeous growth period), as did the lower temperature regime. Net nutrient uptake was not reduced at lower temperatures and appeared to follow plant demand. These findings confirm that E. americanum is adapted to perform better under a low temperature regime and that mineral nutrition in this species occurs mainly in spring in response to active growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi benefit E. americanum maybe through less expensive nutrient uptake or sustained carbon sink demand. |