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1. Coupled Shifts in Ectomycorrhizal Communities and Plant Uptake of Organic Nitrogen Along a Soil Gradient: An Isotopic Perspective

   https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00628-6  

   Pellitier, P.T. D.R. ( April 2021 , Ecosystems)

   Abstract Plants associating with mutualistic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may directly obtain nitrogen (N) bound in soil organic matter (N-SOM). However, the contribution of N-SOM to plant growth under field conditions remains poorly constrained. We tested the hypothesis that turnover in ECM communities along soil inorganic N gradients mediates a functional transition from plant reliance on N-SOM in low inorganic N soils, to primarily inorganic N uptake in inorganic N-rich condition soils. We quantified the δ 15 N of Q. rubra foliage and roots, organic and inorganic soil N pools, and used molecular sequencing to characterize ECM communities, morpho-traits associated with N-foraging, and a community aggregated sporocarp δ 15 N. In support of our hypothesis, we document the progressive enrichment of root and foliar δ 15 N with increasing soil inorganic N supply; green leaves ranged from − 5.95 to 0.16‰ as the supply of inorganic N increased. ECM communities inhabiting low inorganic N soils were dominated by the genus Cortinarius, and other fungi forming hyphal morphologies putatively involved in N-SOM acquisition; sporocarp estimates from these communities were enriched (+ 4‰), further supporting fungal N-SOM acquisition. In contrast, trees occurring in high inorganic N soils hosted distinct communities with morpho-traits associated withmore »inorganic N acquisition and depleted sporocarps (+ 0.5‰). Together, our results are consistent with apparent tradeoffs in the foraging cost and contribution of N-SOM to plant growth and demonstrate linkages between ECM community composition, fungal N-foraging potential and foliar δ 15 N. The functional characteristics of ECM communities represent a mechanistic basis for flexibility in plant nutrient foraging strategies. We conclude that the contribution of N-SOM to plant growth is likely contingent on ECM community composition and local soil nutrient availability.« less
2. Deep roots of Carex aquatilis have greater ammonium uptake capacity than shallow roots in peatlands following permafrost thaw

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04978-x  

   Albano, Lucas J. ; Turetsky, Merritt R. ; Mack, Michelle C. ; Kane, Evan S. ( May 2021 , Plant and Soil)

   null (Ed.)

   Aims Climate warming in northern ecosystems is triggering widespread permafrost thaw, during which deep soil nutrients, such as nitrogen, could become available for biological uptake. Permafrost thaw shift frozen organic matter to a saturated state, which could impede nutrient uptake. We assessed whether soil nitrogen can be accessed by the deep roots of vascular plants in thermokarst bogs, potentially allowing for increases in primary productivity. Methods We conducted an ammonium uptake experiment on Carex aquatilis Wahlenb. roots excavated from thermokarst bogs in interior Alaska. Ammonium uptake capacity was compared between deep and shallow roots. We also quantified differences in root ammonium uptake capacity and plant size characteristics (plant aboveground and belowground biomass, maximum shoot height, and maximum root length) between the actively-thawing margin and the centre of each thermokarst bog as a proxy for time-following-thaw. Results Deep roots had greater ammonium uptake capacity than shallow roots, while rooting depth, but not belowground biomass, was positively correlated with aboveground biomass. Although there were no differences in aboveground biomass between the margin and centre, our findings suggest that plants can benefit from investing in the acquisition of resources near the vertical thaw front. Conclusions Our results suggest that deep roots of C.more »aquatilis can contribute to plant nitrogen uptake and are therefore able to tolerate anoxic conditions in saturated thermokarst bogs. This work furthers our understanding of how subarctic and wetland plants respond to warming and how enhanced plant biomass production might help offset ecosystem carbon release with future permafrost thaw.« less
3. Emerging investigator series: molecular mechanisms of plant salinity stress tolerance improvement by seed priming with cerium oxide nanoparticles

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EN00387E  

   An, Jing ; Hu, Peiguang ; Li, Fangjun ; Wu, Honghong ; Shen, Yu ; White, Jason C. ; Tian, Xiaoli ; Li, Zhaohu ; Giraldo, Juan Pablo ( January 2020 , Environmental Science: Nano)

   Engineered nanomaterials interfaced with plant seeds can improve stress tolerance during the vulnerable seedling stage. Herein, we investigated how priming seeds with antioxidant poly(acrylic acid)-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles (PNC) impacts cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedling morphological, physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic traits under salinity stress. Seeds primed with 500 mg L −1 PNC in water (24 h) and germinated under salinity stress (200 mM NaCl) retained nanoparticles in the seed coat inner tegmen, cotyledon, and root apical meristem. Seed priming with PNC significantly ( P < 0.05) increased seedling root length (56%), fresh weight (41%), and dry weight (38%), modified root anatomical structure, and increased root vitality (114%) under salt stress compared with controls (water). PNC seed priming led to a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in seedling roots (46%) and alleviated root morphological and physiological changes induced by salinity stress. Roots from exposed seeds exhibited similar Na content, significantly decreased K (6%), greater Ca (22%) and Mg content (60%) compared to controls. A total of 4779 root transcripts were differentially expressed by PNC seed priming alone relative to controls with no nanoparticles under non-saline conditions. Under salinity stress, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PNC seed priming treatmentsmore »relative to non-nanoparticle controls were associated with ROS pathways (13) and ion homeostasis (10), indicating that ROS and conserved Ca 2+ plant signaling pathways likely play pivotal roles in PNC-induced improvement of salinity tolerance. These results provide potential unifying molecular mechanisms of nanoparticle-seed priming enhancement of plant salinity tolerance.« less
4. Mycorrhizal Fungi as Mediators of Soil Organic Matter Dynamics

   https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110617-062331  

   Frey, Serita D. ( November 2019 , Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics)

   Inhabiting the interface between plant roots and soil, mycorrhizal fungi play a unique but underappreciated role in soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics. Their hyphae provide an efficient mechanism for distributing plant carbon throughout the soil, facilitating its deposition into soil pores and onto mineral surfaces, where it can be protected from microbial attack. Mycorrhizal exudates and dead tissues contribute to the microbial necromass pool now known to play a dominant role in SOM formation and stabilization. While mycorrhizal fungi lack the genetic capacity to act as saprotrophs, they use several strategies to access nutrients locked in SOM and thereby promote its decay, including direct enzymatic breakdown, oxidation via Fenton chemistry, and stimulation of heterotrophic microorganisms through carbon provision to the rhizosphere. An additional mechanism, competition with free-living saprotrophs, potentially suppresses SOM decomposition, leading to its accumulation. How these various nutrient acquisition strategies differentially influence SOM formation, stabilization, and loss is an area of critical research need.
5. Hydroperiod and Salinity Interactions Control Mangrove Root Dynamics in a Karstic Oceanic Island in the Caribbean Sea (San Andres, Colombia)

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.598132  

   Medina-Calderón, Jairo Humberto ; Mancera-Pineda, José Ernesto ; Castañeda-Moya, Edward ; Rivera-Monroy, Víctor H. ( January 2021 , Frontiers in Marine Science)

   Mangroves sustain high soil accretion and carbon sequestration rates, yet it is still unknown if they can keep pace with increasing sea level rise (SLR) across a wider range of coastal geomorphic settings. Because accretion rates are controlled by mineral sediment inputs and organic matter accumulation, it is paramount to assess the relative contribution of root productivity to soil formation. Here, we evaluated root biomass, production, and turnover in three mangrove ecotypes to evaluate the role of soil nutrient limitation, stressors, and hydroperiod in controlling root dynamics in San Andres Island (SAI), a karstic oceanic island in the Caribbean Sea. Root production was modulated by soil stress conditions and not by nutrient availability as it has been reported for other karstic environments. The lowest root biomass allocation, and both production and turnover of fine roots were measured under low flooding duration, and low salinity (<20 PSU) and sulfide concentrations (0.84 ± 0.4 mM). Yet, when soil stress conditions increased during high flooding duration (6207 h y –1 ) and low oxygen conditions (Eh), root tissues reached the highest biomass and production values, including a relative fast turnover of fine roots (<2 mm; 0.75 y –1 ). Our results follow themore »predictions of the plant root longevity cost-benefit hypothesis where plants maintain roots only until the efficiency of resource acquisition is maximized by water and nutrient acquisition. Because of the importance of groundwater in controlling porewater salinity and mangrove root productivity in karstic oceanic islands such as SAI, water use and coastal development should be regulated in the short term to avoid the loss of mangrove area and concomitant ecosystem services.« less