TY - JOUR
T1 - Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonize decomposing leaves of Myrica parvifolia, M. pubescens and Paepalanthus sp.
AU - Aristizábal, Catalina
AU - Rivera, Emma Lucía
AU - Janos, David P.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements This research was financed by COLCIEN-CIAS and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ, Colombia). The authors are grateful to Carlos Parra for help in plant identification, and to A. Varela and the Population Ecology Lab at PUJ for facilitating sampling at Zipacón.
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004/8
Y1 - 2004/8
N2 - Hyphae and vesicles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were found within the decomposing leaves of Myrica parvifolia, M. pubescens and Paepalanthus sp. at three montane sites in Colombia. Hyphae, vesicles, and arbuscule-like structures were also found within scale-like leaves of the rhizomes of Paepalanthus sp. The litter found in the vicinity of the roots was divided into three decomposition layers. The highest AMF colonization occurred in the most decomposed leaves, which were in close association with roots. In contrast, there were no differences in AMF colonization of roots present in the different decomposition layers. Colonization of decomposing leaves by AMF did not differ between the two closely related species M. parvifolia and M. pubescens, nor between two sites (Guatavita and Zipacón, Colombia) differing in soil fertility. Occurrence of vesicles in decomposing leaves was correlated with abundant AMF extraradical hyphae among the leaves. We propose that AMF enter decomposing leaves mechanically through vascular tissue. As a consequence, AMF are well positioned to obtain and efficiently recycle mineral nutrients released by decomposer microorganisms before their loss by leaching or immobilization in soil.
AB - Hyphae and vesicles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were found within the decomposing leaves of Myrica parvifolia, M. pubescens and Paepalanthus sp. at three montane sites in Colombia. Hyphae, vesicles, and arbuscule-like structures were also found within scale-like leaves of the rhizomes of Paepalanthus sp. The litter found in the vicinity of the roots was divided into three decomposition layers. The highest AMF colonization occurred in the most decomposed leaves, which were in close association with roots. In contrast, there were no differences in AMF colonization of roots present in the different decomposition layers. Colonization of decomposing leaves by AMF did not differ between the two closely related species M. parvifolia and M. pubescens, nor between two sites (Guatavita and Zipacón, Colombia) differing in soil fertility. Occurrence of vesicles in decomposing leaves was correlated with abundant AMF extraradical hyphae among the leaves. We propose that AMF enter decomposing leaves mechanically through vascular tissue. As a consequence, AMF are well positioned to obtain and efficiently recycle mineral nutrients released by decomposer microorganisms before their loss by leaching or immobilization in soil.
KW - Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
KW - Leaf litter
KW - Nutrient cycling
KW - Root proliferation
KW - Tropical montane ecosystems
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U2 - 10.1007/s00572-003-0259-0
DO - 10.1007/s00572-003-0259-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 12942356
AN - SCOPUS:4544347704
VL - 14
SP - 221
EP - 228
JO - Mycorrhiza
JF - Mycorrhiza
SN - 0940-6360
IS - 4
ER -