Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve reestablishment of Leymus chinensis in bare saline-alkaline soil: Implication on vegetation restoration of extremely degraded land

Salinization and alkalinization are increasing problems in the world. Some land has been degraded to bare saline-alkaline soil where vegetation restoration is difficult because high toxic ionic content and pH are harmful to the survival of introduced plants. We grew Leymus chinensis with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and G. geosporum) in either pots filled with soil from bare saline-alkaline land, or transplanted seedlings into field plots, to determine the influence of AM fungi on the reestablishment of this dominant grass species in bare degraded land. Association with AM fungi increased the absorption of N, P, K⁺, Ca²⁺, but decreased Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ uptake under saline-alkaline stress. Therefore, higher K/Na, Ca/Na, P/Na, and P/Cl ratios were found in the inoculated plants. Plants inoculated with AM fungi accumulated significantly higher biomass, root/shoot ratio and tiller number than non-inoculated plants. AM fungi also significantly increased the survival of seedlings when they were transplanted into a bare saline-alkaline land in the field. The improvement of survival, growth and asexual reproduction of inoculated plants indicated that the plant-AM fungi mutualism could improve the reestablishment of vegetation in bare saline-alkaline soil, drive the vegetation restoration to a community dominated by original species.     

Analyzing the community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing the roots of representative shrubland species in a Mediterranean ecosystem

Community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was analyzed in the roots of five representative shrub species (Genista cinerea, Lavandula latifolia, Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus mastichina and Thymus zygis) growing in a typical semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem. Roots from a well-preserved area of the ecosystem were extracted from soil and analyzed by nested PCR, single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing of the NS31-AM1 and NS8-ARCH1311 regions of the small subunit of the ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA). Ten AM fungal phylotypes were identified; eight belonged to the Glomeraceae and two to the Diversisporaceae. Only two of the phylotypes clustered with sequences of morphologically defined species and a high dominance by one AM group (Glomus intraradices) was detected. Our diversity analyses revealed that the AM fungal communities of G. cinerea, L. latifolia and T. mastichina did not significantly differ while the AM fungal communities of R. officinalis and T. zygis were distant from this cluster and from each other. The highest diversity was found in the roots of T. zygis. Our data indicate that co-occurring plant species may house distinct communities of AM fungi.     

Effects of soil nitrogen:phosphorus ratio on growth rate of Artemisia ordosica seedlings

To address how the ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus (N:P ratios) in soil affect plant growth, we performed a two-factor (soil available N:P ratios and plant density) randomized block pot experiment to examine the relationships between soil N:P ratios, and the N:P ratios and growth rate of Artemisia ordosica seedlings. Under moderate water stress and adequate nutrient status, both soil N:P and plant density influenced the N:P ratios and growth rates of A. ordosica. With the increase of soil N:P ratios, the growth rates of A. ordosica seedlings decreased significantly. With the increase of soil N:P ratios, N:P ratios in A. ordosica seedlings increased significantly. While the nitrogen concentrations in the plant increased slightly, the phosphorus concentrations significantly decreased. With the increase of plant density, the shoot N:P ratios and growth rates significantly decreased, which resulted from soil N:P ratios. Thus, soil N:P ratios influenced the N:P ratios in A. ordosica seedlings, and hence, influenced its growth. Our results suggest that, under adequate nutrient environment, soil N:P ratios can be a limiting factor for plant growth.     

Effects of N:P ratio of Artemisia ordosica on growth influenced by soil calcium carbonate

Soil calcium carbonate(CaCO_3) has a strong solid phosphorus effect, and high content of CaCO_3 can significantly reduce the effectiveness of soil phosphorus. To reveal the limiting effect of soil CaCO_3 on the growth of plants on sand land and its mechanism of plant physiology, we performed pot experiments with a two-factor randomized block design and a three-factor orthogonal design for different soil CaCO_3 content treatments using Artemisia ordosica seedlings. In the experiments, we surveyed plant height, aboveground biomass, root length and root weight and analyzed N, P concentrations and RNA content of the seedlings, and discussed the relationships between relative growth rate(RGR) of the seedlings and N:P ratio as well as RNA. Results show that, the RGRs of plant height and above-ground biomass of the seedlings decreased significantly with the increase of soil CaCO_3 content, and those for root length and root weight decreased. The RGRs of plant height and above-ground biomass of the seedlings were significantly negatively correlated with leaf N:P ratios, but significantly positively correlated with leaf RNA content and leaf P concentrations. It can be seen that soil CaCO_3 is a stress factor for the growth of A. ordosica seedlings, and the growth response of the seedlings under the influence of soil CaCO_3 is in line with the Growth Rate Hypothesis.     

Mechanical shaking and soil water affect the growth of Psammochloa villosa in the Mu Us Sandland

The Mu Us Sandland is basically characterized by water shortage and high wind. Thus, wind-induced mechanical perturbation (MP) and soil water availability are likely to interact to affect plant growth. Since high water availability and MP can induce responses that are in the opposite direction, we hypothesized that MP effects on perennial grasses might be mitigated by increased soil water availability in the Mu Us Sandland. We counducted an experiment in which seedlings of Psammochloa villosa were subjected to two levels of MP (non-MP vs. MP 1 min d⁻¹) and two levels of water availability (200 ml d⁻¹vs. 400 ml d⁻¹) and measured three plant traits. MP significantly decreased plant height, total biomass, and root/shoot ratio. There were significant interactions between MP and soil water availability on plant height and root/shoot ratio. These findings imply that MP alone is a stressful factor for P. villosa and MP effects on its growth can be partially mitigated by increased soil water availability, and also suggest that P. villosa may respond to MP in a way that allows plants to survive in the windy semiarid environments.     

Selection of plant species for rehabilitation of gypsum mine spoil in arid zone

Ten species were selected based on their economic value in order to study and compare their growth, nutrient uptake pattern, AM-fungal infection etc. in both mine spoil and normal cultivated soil in pot culture. In general, per cent root infection and number of viable AM fungal spores in the rhizosphere of the plant species grown in mine spoil were higher compared to those in normal cultivated soil. Mine spoil had supported significantly higher growth ofProsopis juliflora,Salvadora oleoidesandCenchrus ciliariscompared to normal soil. Concentrations of phosphorus, potassium and calcium in plants growing on gypsum mine spoil were higher than observed in normal soil. In general, micronutrient concentrations (namely Cu, Zn and Fe) were lower in all the plant species growing in normal soil.Salvadora oleoides,Colophospermum mopaneandPithecellobium dulcewere identified as calcium-loving plants. All the species tested can be employed for rehabilitation of gypsum mine spoil.     

土壤氮、盐浓度对盐角草(Salicornia europaea)生长发育及氮素吸收的影响

以盐生植物盐角草(Salicornia europaea)为材料,以NaCl模拟不同盐度环境,盆栽试验了氮(0.3g·kg-1,N1;0.6g·kg-1,N2;1.2g·kg-1,N3;2.4g·kg-1,N4)、盐(2.5g·kg-1,S1;5.0g·kg-1,S2;7.5g·kg-1,S3)处理对其生长发育及氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明:(1)不同盐度下施氮均可以显著促进盐角草的生长,地上部干质量均在N2处理下达到最大,而株高均在N1时达到最高,且施氮对盐角草生长的影响与盐度有关;(2)不同盐度环境下施氮所能达到的最高干物质产量及最高施氮限量不同,表现为S3S1S2,随着施氮量的增加,氮素生产力与氮素农学利用效率均表现出下降的趋势;(3)施氮显著增加了盐角草各器官含氮量及氮吸收量,同一施氮水平下盐角草各器官含氮量及氮吸收量均表现为同化枝茎根;(4)同一施氮水平下,随着盐度的增加,盐角草同化枝渗透势显著下降,同一盐度环境下,随着施氮量的增加,同化枝渗透势呈现出下降趋势,渗透调节能力增大;(5)3个盐度环境下,施氮均增加盐角草同化枝光合色素含量,从而提高光合效率,增强其对盐渍环境的适应能力。     

Efficient fog harvesting by Stipagrostis sabulicola (Namib dune bushman grass)

Stipagrostis sabulicola, an endemic grass species of the central Namib Desert, grows on dune fields under conditions of very low annual precipitation punctuated by regular nocturnal fog events. The objective of this study is to determine to what extent S. sabulicola relies on water supply by fog harvesting. The following parameters were monitored: 1) climate, 2) stem runoff, 3) leaf water potential (LWP) and 4) soil water content (SWC). Collected fog water was 5.0 L (liter) per m⁻² leaf surface and therefore a total harvest of 4-5 L per fog event for a medium-sized mound of S. sabulicola. SWC close to a mound increased substantially during a fog event, with SWC at about 2.2% within a mound. LWP of S. sabulicola ranged between −1.7 MPa and −3.5 MPa. On days without fog, LWP was highest during the morning and decreased during the afternoon. No significant decrease of LWP occurred during days following a fog event. The increase of SWC at the plant base during a fog event indicates that fog harvest of S. sabulicola occurs mainly via stem flow with subsequent absorption by the root system and that fog catchment therefore represents a substantial water source for this species.     

Camel grazing affects species diversity and community structure in the deserts of the UAE

Camel grazing plays a crucial role in the desert ecosystems of the UAE. In this study, we compare areas grazed by small antelope (Al Maha Resort – the AMR) with areas grazed by both camels and small antelope (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – the DDCR). A total of 126 plots were selected during the growing season 2006/07 on three soil substrates: gravel plains, sand flats and sand dunes. In each plot, several vegetation parameters were assessed: density, frequency, percent cover and diversity indices. The replacement of camels with wild antelope has significantly increased the number of species on gravel plains, vegetation density on sand dunes and diversity indices on both sand flats and sand dunes, but significantly decreased plant cover on sand flats and sand dunes. The increase in species diversity in the AMR was attributed to moderate grazing by antelope. Replacement of camels by antelope in the AMR has resulted in change in plant community composition of the three substrate types. Species recovered after protection from camel grazing are palatable, especially for camels, except Heliotropium kotschyi and Aerva javanica. The absence of most of the palatable species from the DDCR was attributed to both selective foraging and overgrazing by camels.     

塔里木河下游丛枝菌根植物的侵染

通过对塔里木河下游自然和人工植物群落中的15种主要建群种植物根系菌根的定殖状况的调查及对菌根侵染部位、菌根中的泡囊、丛枝和菌丝的观察,其结果显示:其中11种植物可被AM真菌侵染,占所调查植物种总数的73.33%,野生乡土植物表现出较高的菌根侵染率和侵染强度,其中有84.62%的植物为菌根植物,且乔木、多年生草本和灌木类植物全部为菌根植物,一年生草本植物未见AM真菌侵染;人工引入种蓼科的泡果沙拐枣(Calligonum junceum)和藜科的梭梭柴(Haloxylon ammodendron)均未见有AM真菌侵染。丛枝菌根真菌侵染率、侵染强度与植物所属的科属关系较密切,也与真菌群落所处时空环境及土壤深度有关。     

More than biofuel? Jatropha curcas root system symmetry and potential for soil erosion control

One of the reasons why Jatropha curcas has recently been hailed as one of the world’s most sustainable biofuel crops, is its suitability to grow on arid land where it offers the additional benefit of erosion control. As arid lands are often very vulnerable to land use changes, it is nevertheless important to fully understand (belowground) plant functional and structural development before they are planted at large scale. Here we introduce possible measurement methods for the root system structure of J. curcas seedlings and adult plants, formulate a set of hypotheses on root system structure, and demonstrate these in the light of root structure stability. Initially developing one taproot and four perpendicularly oriented laterals, the root structure of Jatropha appears to be quite promising to control soil erosion by water and wind on arid land. The lateral roots could decrease soil erodibility through additional soil cohesion, while the taproot and sinkers may enable exploitation of subsurface soil moisture and thus enhance vegetative cover, even in very dry environments.     

Optimising seed broadcasting and greenstock planting for restoration in the Australian arid zone

Vegetation within some parts of Western Australia has been degraded by resource extraction, and ecological restoration is necessary to prevent erosion and reinstate plant biodiversity. Two restoration approaches, seed broadcasting and planting of seedlings, were tested with plant species (Acacia tetragonophylla F. Muell., Atriplex bunburyana F. Muell. and Solanum orbiculatum Poir.) known to have been dominant prior to mining activities in the World Heritage Area at Shark Bay. For broadcast seeding, soil raking and/or ripping increased seedling emergence, but only after sufficient rainfall. Survival of A. bunburyana seedlings (≤92%) was higher than A. tetragonophylla (≤13%) almost two years after planting and soil ripping partly alleviated soil impedance and resulted in increased seedling survival. Shoot pruning, fertiliser and moisture retaining gel had a reduced or detrimental effect on survival. Seedling survival differed between the three experimental sites, with electrical conductivity being the most noted soil difference between the sites. Restoration in the arid environs of the World Heritage Area at Shark Bay in Western Australia is challenging, but this study shows that seedling establishment is technically feasible and provides methodology useful to other arid restoration projects.     

The effect of radiation on seedling growth and physiology in four species of Prosopis L. (Mimosaceae)

Domestication of wild plants needs efforts focused particularly on the development of the theoretical basis of plant responses to environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of radiation on seedling growth and physiology of Prosopis alba, P. chilensis, P. flexuosa and P. glandulosa. Seedlings were grown in a greenhouse and randomly assigned to three light environments: full-sun, 52% sun, and 38% sun. No significant differences were found in the rate of leaf appearance and plant height 60 days after the light treatments began. Instantaneous CO₂uptake was not affected by the light environment during leaf development and did not differ among species. Variations in radiation availability resulted in significant differences in biomass accumulation, shoot/root ratio, protein and total non-structural carbohydrates contents. The practice of shading seedlings reduces the chances of survival ofProsopis due to an increase of the shoot/root ratio and a reduction of total biomass, stored carbohydrates, and the C:N balance.     

Chronic wind and plant communities in dunes: Total biomass,inter-specific competition,and species abundance

Chronic wind is an important ecological factor, but its direct roles in shaping plant communities remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that chronic wind can modulate community productivity, inter-specific competition, and species abundance in inland dunes. We conducted an experiment with three shrubs (Artemisia ordosica, Caragana intermedia, and Hedysarum laeve) common to semi-arid sandlands, set up seven kinds of plant communities (i.e. Artemisia monoculture, Caragana monoculture, Hedysarum monoculture, Artemisia–Caragana mixture, Artemisia–Hedysarum mixture, Caragana–Hedysarum mixture, and Artemisia–Caragana–Hedysarum mixture), and communities subjected to two levels of wind exposure: shielded (by means of fencing) or exposed (no fencing). We measured total biomass per plot, competitive effects, and relative species abundance. Wind exposure did not significantly affect the total biomass of monocultures but increased their root weight ratio. However, wind exposure enhanced the total biomass of three-species mixtures but not two-species mixtures, and had no effects on root weight ratio of all mixtures. Wind exposed condition increased the competitive ability and relative abundance of Artemisia, decreased the competitive ability of Hedysarum but had no effects on its abundance, and did not affect the competitive ability of Caragana but decreased its abundance. These results suggest that chronic wind, as an environmental filter, can directly modulate plant communities through altering competitive outcomes and thus affect community functioning.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance in the Mojave Desert: Seasonal dynamics and impacts of elevated CO2

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play important roles in ecosystem processes. However, little is known about AMF abundance in arid, nutrient-poor environments like the Mojave Desert of North America. We conducted two AMF studies: one examined AMF responses to elevated atmospheric CO₂ at the Nevada Desert FACE (Free-Air-Carbon dioxide-Enrichment) Facility (NDFF), and the second examined seasonal dynamics at nearby sites. In both studies, AMF measurements (root colonization, extra-radical hyphal [ERH] length, and two measures of glomalin-related soil protein [GRSP]) and environmental factors (root length, soil water content, and precipitation) were measured across microsites (beneath shrubs, shrub interspaces) for two species (Larrea tridentata, Ambrosia dumosa). Elevated CO₂ did not significantly affect AMF measurements. Other NDFF studies show no change in fine root production under elevated CO₂ but show increased available nitrogen. We infer that additional fixed carbon under elevated CO₂ is not allocated to soil resource foraging. However, AMF varied seasonally. ERH seasonally declined across species and microsites, but GRSP declined only beneath L. tridentata. Our results combined with previous results indicate that drought negatively affects AMF root colonization. Robust inter-relationship among AMF measurements only occurred between the two measures of GRSP, indicating that resources are independently allocated to different AMF structures.     

Plant–water relationships and growth strategies of Jatropha curcas L. seedlings under different levels of drought stress

Although Jatropha curcas, an important tropical biofuel crop, is reputed for its drought resistance, its ability to perform under dry conditions has hardly been investigated. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated the plant–water relationships of Jatropha seedlings from different accessions under different levels of drought stress. There was little difference in plant–water relations between accessions. Drought significantly reduced leaf area, biomass and relative growth rate, but had no effect on specific leaf area, daily range in leaf water potential, leaf water content, transpiration efficiency or aboveground biomass water productivity, corrected for atmospheric conditions. Stem wood density was equally low (0.26 g cm^?3) for all treatments. Stem water content was lowest for dry treatment seedlings. Based on these results, Jatropha could be characterized as a stem-succulent tree. In contrast to other stem-succulent deciduous trees, leaves were not shed immediately after the seedlings were confronted with drought. Instead, at the onset of drought, leaves with a higher adaxial stomatal density were formed, after which leaves were only gradually shed. The role of the succulent stem in the water economy of Jatropha was confined to balancing the small water losses of the leaves during drought.     

Dispersal of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes by Ctenomys cf. knighti (Rodentia) in the northern Monte Desert of Argentina

In arid and semi-arid environments, root-associated fungi may play a key role in plant communities (e.g., seedling establishment, nutrient acquisition, plant survival and heat tolerance). Several studies have shown the importance of small mammals as consumers and dispersal agents of mycorrhizal fungi spores in tropical and temperate ecosystems. However, little is known about the dispersal of infective propagules of endophytic fungi in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This study analyzed the potential role of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys cf. knighti as a dispersal agent of root-associated fungi. In order to demonstrate this role, we analyzed: (1) the incidence of colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizae and dark septate endophytes on representative plant species of the Monte Desert; (2) the presence of fungal structures of arbuscular mycorrhizae and dark septate endophytes in C. cf. knighti fecal samples; and (3) the infectivity of the fungal propagules contained in the scat and their growth effects on nine native plant species. Data strongly suggest that this South American subterranean rodent may play a key role as a dispersal agent of arbuscular mycorrhizae and dark septate endophytes fungi in the arid environment of the northern Monte Desert of Argentina.     

AM真菌对干旱区7种珍稀濒危植物引种培育的影响研究

为了探讨AM真菌对干旱区珍稀濒危植物引种过程中的成活、生长保育的影响研究,在盆栽条件下,选取具有代表性的7个珍稀濒临灭绝植物物种,在引种过程中定向接种AM真菌,通过分析植株的生长状况及AM真菌的侵染率,初步筛选在干旱区珍稀濒危植物引种过程中,具有应用价值的AM真菌与植物最佳共生模式。结果表明：7种濒危植物与AM真菌能形成共生关系,但植物与菌种间侵染率存在显著差异。既形成了良好的共生关系又能促进濒危植物生长的最佳组合有：AM真菌F.mosseae与白麻或乌拉尔甘草或蒙古莸的共生,真菌D.eburnea与新疆沙冬青的共生、真菌C.claroideum或F.mosseae与中麻黄的共生、真菌C.lamellosum与胀果甘草的共生、真菌C.etunicatum与蒙古沙冬青的共生。表明濒危植物与AM真菌之间存在一定的生态适用性选择关系,而且在利用AM真菌对濒危植物引种繁育时,必须要考虑他们间的生态适用性关系,才能充分发挥AM真菌的功能。这对干旱区珍稀濒危植物的引种繁殖意义重大。     

Fine root dynamics and longevity of Artemisia halodendron reflect plant growth strategy in two contrasting habitats

Fine root dynamics and longevity may reflect the results of plant adaptation. The minirhizotron technique was applied to investigate the fine root dynamics and longevity of Artemisia halodendron Turcz. ex Bess. in the mobile and fixed sand dunes in Inner Mongolia, Northern China. For over two years of study, the cumulative fine root length production and turnover were all significantly higher in the mobile than the fixed sand dunes at soil depths of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm. The annual fine root production (8.46 mm cm⁻² y⁻¹) and annual fine root turnover (7.38 mm cm⁻² y⁻¹) of shrubs in the mobile sand dunes are about 38 and 70 percent higher than those in the fixed sand dunes. The fine root lifespan is higher for those in the fixed (47 days) than in the mobile (33 days) sand dunes, consistent with the higher ratio of first- (distal) to second-order roots of the former. The root production and lifespan are consistent with the adaptive responses of A. halodendron in the two habitats. The differences in root dynamics and lifespan between the mobile and fixed sand dunes may significantly explain the changes in the C fixation rate with the restoration of desert soils.     

An assessment of revegetation treatments following removal of invasive Pennisetum ciliare (buffelgrass)

In semi-arid regions of North America and Australia, Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link (syn. Cenchrus ciliaris; buffelgrass) is highly invasive and has the potential to introduce fire to fire-intolerant ecosystems. Major efforts to remove P. ciliare continue and it is essential that P. ciliare be prevented from recolonizing. This study investigated potential methods to revegetate with native herbaceous plants: sowing seeds; sowing seeds and mulching; sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings; and relying on natural revegetation from the seedbank. The treatments were applied in 2009 and 2010 at sites in the Sonoran Desert which had undergone P. ciliare removal. Monsoon precipitation was below average each year and seedling emergence and establishment rates were low. There are indications that soil disturbance associated with planting seedlings promoted P. ciliare emergence and increased mortality of brittlebush (Encelia farinosa A. Gray ex Torr.), a common native perennial forb. Addition of mulch may have promoted P. ciliare over native grasses, and seeding had no effect. We did not find competition between herbaceous seedlings. Rather, native and exotic grass seedling densities were positively correlated across sites. Under prevailing conditions, low precipitation appeared to limit herbaceous plant establishment and none of the treatments reduced P. ciliare abundance.