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The effects of mycorrhizal associations on fine root decomposition in temperate and (sub)tropical forests

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Abstract

Background and aims

Fine-root (diameter ≤ 2 mm) decomposition contributes significantly to nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Roots with arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) differ in root chemistry, which might affect root decomposition rate, but whether this effect differs across forest biomes is unknown.

Methods

We used a compiled dataset from temperate and (sub)tropical forests (168 species from 84 studies) to investigate how root chemistry and climate influence fine-root decomposition with different mycorrhizal associations in (sub)tropical and temperate forests.

Results

We show that AM trees exhibited faster fine-root decomposition rates than ECM trees did in temperate forests, but not in (sub)tropical forests. In temperate forests, root decomposition rates decreased with increasing root lignin concentrations, and ECM trees had higher root lignin concentrations than AM trees did which likely caused the difference in their decomposition rates. In (sub)tropical forests, root decomposition rates were mainly determined by root phosphorus (P) concentration. ECM and AM trees had similar root P concentrations, and thus their root decomposition rates were similar. In addition, the root decomposition rate was not affected by climate in (sub)tropical or temperate forests. However, the root decomposition rates of both AM and ECM trees were similarly affected by root chemistry and climate for all forests.

Conclusions

The findings will help us better predict tree species effects on ecosystem processes by considering their mycorrhizal association, particularly in temperate forests, where AM and ECM species co-occur. Additionally, the findings provide a framework for linking the dynamics of organic matter in forests to fine root quality and climate.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant numbers 32171599, 31870465). We are very grateful to Prof. Hans Lambers and Dr. Patrick Hayes from The University of Western Australia for their constructive comments, valuable suggestions in data analysis and editing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201 Jiufeng 1st Rd, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    **aoxiang Zhao, Qiuxiang Tian, Qiaoling Lin, Rudong Zhao, Xudong Yuan, Long Chen, Juan Zuo & Feng Liu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100049, China

    **aoxiang Zhao, Qiaoling Lin, Xudong Yuan & Long Chen

  3. Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anders Michelsen

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  1. **aoxiang Zhao
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  2. Qiuxiang Tian
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  3. Anders Michelsen
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  9. Feng Liu
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Correspondence to Feng Liu.

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Zhao, X., Tian, Q., Michelsen, A. et al. The effects of mycorrhizal associations on fine root decomposition in temperate and (sub)tropical forests. Plant Soil 487, 299–310 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-05925-8

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