Phosphorus facilitation and covariation of root traits in steppe species

© 2020 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust.

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:The New phytologist. - 1979. - 226(2020), 5 vom: 15. Juni, Seite 1285-1298
1. Verfasser: Yu, Rui-Peng (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Li, Xiao-Xi, Xiao, Zhi-Hua, Lambers, Hans, Li, Long
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2020
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:The New phytologist
Schlagworte:Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't diversity effect interspecific phosphorus facilitation phosphorus-impoverished soil phosphorus-mobilizing species plasticity rhizosphere process species coexistence Soil mehr... Phosphorus 27YLU75U4W
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:© 2020 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust.
Different phosphorus (P)-acquisition strategies may be relevant for species coexistence and plant performance in terrestrial communities on P-deficient soils. However, how interspecific P facilitation functions in natural systems is largely unknown. We investigated the root physiological activities for P mobilization across 19 coexisting plant species in steppe vegetation, and then grew plants with various abilities to mobilize sorbed P in a microcosm in a glasshouse. We show that P facilitation mediated by rhizosphere processes of P-mobilizing species promoted growth and increased P content of neighbors in a species-specific manner. When roots interacted with a facilitating neighbor, Cleistogenes squarrosa and Bromus inermis tended to show greater plasticity of root proliferation or rhizosheath acid phosphatase activity compared with other non-P-mobilizing species. Greater variation in these root traits was strongly correlated with increased performance in the presence of a facilitator. The results also show, for the first time, that P facilitation was an important mechanism underlying a positive complementarity effect. Our study highlights that interspecific P-acquisition facilitation requires that facilitated neighbors exhibit a better match of root traits with a facilitating species. It provides a better understanding of species coexistence in P-limited communities
Beschreibung:Date Completed 14.05.2021
Date Revised 14.05.2021
published: Print-Electronic
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/nph.16499