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Deciphering the relative contributions of multiple functions within plant-microbe symbioses
Sikes, Benjamin A. Powell, Jeff R. Rillig, Matthias C.
Sikes, Benjamin A.
Powell, Jeff R.
Rillig, Matthias C.
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Abstract
For microbial symbioses with plants, such as mycorrhizas, we typically quantify either the net effects of one partner on another or a single function a symbiont provides. However, many microbial symbioses provide multiple functions to plants that vary based on the microbial species or functional group, plant species, and environment. Here we quantified the relative contributions of multiple functions provided by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to symbiont-mediated changes in plant biomass. We used two published data sets, one that measured multiple functions (pathogen protection and nutrient uptake) on a single plant and one that measured a single function (pathogen protection) on multiple plants. Using structural equation modeling, we observed strong variation in the functional pathways by which AM fungi altered plant growth; changes in plant biomass were associated with different functions (and different AM fungal functional groups) for the different plant species. Utilizing this methodology across multiple partners and environments will allow researchers to gauge the relative importance of functions they isolate and, perhaps more importantly, those they did not consider. This baseline information is essential for establishing the specific mechanisms by which microbial symbioses influence plant diversity and to more effectively utilize these organisms in agriculture, restoration and conservation.
Description
This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/09-1858.1
Date
2010-06-01
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The Ecological Society of America
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Keywords
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, microbial symbiosis, multifunctionality, mycorrhizal dependency, net effects, nutrient uptake, pathogen protection
Citation
Sikes, Benjamin A. 2010. “Deciphering the relative contributions of multiple functions within plant-microbe symbioses.” Ecology 91(6):1591-1597. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/09-1858.1