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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter nitrogen allocation in the leaves of Populus × canadensis ‘Neva’

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Abstract

Background and aims

Intra-leaf nitrogen allocation plays a pivotal role in plant growth performance; however, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the allocation of nitrogen within a leaf remain poorly understood.

Methods

A pot experiment was conducted with different nitrogen levels and Populus × canadensis ‘Neva’ with or without Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation. The fractions of leaf nitrogen allocated to water-soluble protein, membrane-bound protein, cell wall protein and photosynthetic apparatus were used to estimate nitrogen allocation strategy.

Results

AM fungi increased the light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) under low nitrogen levels, whereas the nitrogen content per unit area (Narea) and nitrogen content per unit mass (Nmass) were unaffected. AM inoculation decreased leaf mass per area (LMA) and the fraction of leaf nitrogen allocated to cell walls but increased the fraction of nitrogen allocated to photosynthesis under low nitrogen levels. The increased fraction of photosynthetic nitrogen allocated to carboxylation (PC) and bioenergetics (PB) in response to AM inoculation under low nitrogen levels contributed to the higher Pmax and PNUE values.

Conclusion

The improved photosynthesis and PNUE resulting from AM inoculation were mostly determined by the relative allocation of nitrogen to photosynthesis and not by the leaf nitrogen concentration. AM fungi may enhance nitrogen allocation to photosynthesis at the expense of cell walls.

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Abbreviations

AM:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal

LMA:

Leaf mass per area

Narea :

Nitrogen content per unit area

NB :

Nitrogen contents in bioenergetics

NC :

Nitrogen contents in carboxylation

NL :

Nitrogen contents in light-harvesting

Nmass :

Nitrogen content per unit mass

PB :

The fraction of leaf nitrogen allocated to bioenergetics

PC :

The fraction of leaf nitrogen allocated to carboxylation

PL :

The fraction of leaf nitrogen allocated to light-harvesting

Pmax :

Light-saturated photosynthetic rate

PNUE:

Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41671268 and 31270639, http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/), the Shaanxi Science and Technology Innovation Project Plan (2016KTCL02-07), the Excellent Young Teachers Training Program (Z111021605), and the Fundamental Research Fund of Northwest A&F University (2452015169).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources (South China Agricultural University), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Fei Wu & Ming Tang

  2. College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    Fei Wu, Haoqiang Zhang & Fengru Fang

  3. Jiangxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, 330329, China

    Hongguang Liu

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  1. Fei Wu
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  2. Haoqiang Zhang
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  3. Fengru Fang
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  5. Ming Tang
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Correspondence to Ming Tang.

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Responsible Editor: Duncan D. Cameron.

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Wu, F., Zhang, H., Fang, F. et al. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter nitrogen allocation in the leaves of Populus × canadensis ‘Neva’. Plant Soil 421, 477–491 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3461-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3461-0

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