Improved nitrogen uptake and transport from 15N-labelled nitrate by external hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhiza under water-stressed conditions

The significance of the external mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhiza for uptake and transport of N from 15N-labelled nitrate in benefiting plant nutrition, was evaluated under either well-irrigated or water-stressed conditions. Plants of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown under controlled conditio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Tobar, Rosa María, Azcón González de Aguilar, Rosario, Barea Navarro, José Miguel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:1994
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/278039
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/278039
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Arbuscular mycorrhiza
Drought stress
15N-labelled fertilizers
Nitrate uptake
Descripción
Sumario:The significance of the external mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhiza for uptake and transport of N from 15N-labelled nitrate in benefiting plant nutrition, was evaluated under either well-irrigated or water-stressed conditions. Plants of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown under controlled conditions in a neutral agricultural soil/sand mix either non-mycorrhizal or in association with the arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus fasciculatum (Taxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe. The pots comprised a two-compartment system, where a fine nylon mesh screen prevented the development of roots in a hyphal compartment. 15NO3− was applied to this hyphal compartment where access of the root was not possible. At harvest, the 15N enrichment in plant tissues was the same for both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants under optimal water supply conditions. However, under water-stressed conditions, where the mass flow and diffusion of NO3− ions to the roots can be affected, the 15N enrichment was four times higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal plants. This provides evidence of hyphal transport of N from a nitrate source, supporting the view that arbuscular mycorrhiza can be important for the N-nutrition of plants in relatively dry agricultural soil where nitrate is actually the predominant nitrogen form.