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Edith Hammer. Photo.

Edith Hammer

Senior lecturer

Edith Hammer. Photo.

A mycorrhizal fungus grows on biochar and captures phosphorus from its surfaces

Author

  • Edith Hammer
  • Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad
  • Iver Jakobsen
  • Pål Axel Olsson
  • Susan L. S. Stipp
  • Matthias C. Rillig

Summary, in English

Biochar application to soils has potential to simultaneously improve soil fertility and store carbon to aid climate change mitigation. While many studies have shown positive effects on plant yields, much less is known about the synergies between biochar and plant growth promoting microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi. We present the first evidence that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can use biochar as a physical growth matrix and nutrient source. We used monoxenic cultures of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis in symbiosis with carrot roots. Using scanning electron microscopy we observed that AM fungal hyphae grow on and into two contrasting types of biochar particles, strongly attaching to inner and outer surfaces. Loading a nutrient-poor biochar surface with nutrients stimulated hyphal colonization. We labeled biochar surfaces with P-33 radiotracer and found that hyphal contact to the biochar surfaces permitted uptake of P-33 and its subsequent translocation to the associated host roots. Direct access of fungal hyphae to biochar surfaces resulted in six times more P-33 translocation to the host roots than in systems where a mesh prevented hyphal contact with the biochar. We conclude that AM fungal hyphae access microsites within biochar, that are too small for most plant roots to enter (<10 mu m), and can hence mediate plant phosphorus uptake from the biochar. Thus, combined management of biochar and AM fungi could contribute to sustainable soil and climate management by providing both a carbon-stable nutrient reservoir and a symbiont that facilitates nutrient uptake from it. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Department/s

  • Biodiversity
  • MEMEG
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • Plant Biology
  • Microbial Ecology

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

252-260

Publication/Series

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Volume

77

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Ecology
  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • Adsorption
  • Charcoal
  • Fertilizer
  • Glomus intraradices
  • Phosphate
  • Slow
  • release

Status

Published

Research group

  • Plant Biology
  • Microbial Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0038-0717