| Title: | Aphid Herbivory Drives Asymmetry in Carbon for Nutrient Exchange between Plants and an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus |
| Author(s): | Charters MD; Sait SM; Field KJ; |
| Address: | "School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. Electronic address: k.field@leeds.ac.uk" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.087 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-0445 (Electronic) 0960-9822 (Print) 0960-9822 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Associations formed between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are characterized by the bi-directional exchange of fungal-acquired soil nutrients for plant-fixed organic carbon compounds. Mycorrhizal-acquired nutrient assimilation by plants may be symmetrically linked to carbon (C) transfer from plant to fungus or governed by sink-source dynamics. Abiotic factors, including atmospheric CO(2) concentration ([CO(2)]), can affect the relative cost of resources traded between mutualists, thereby influencing symbiotic function. Whether biotic factors, such as insect herbivores that represent external sinks for plant C, impact mycorrhizal function remains unstudied. By supplying (33)P to an AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) and (14)CO(2) to wheat, we tested the impact of increasing C sink strength (i.e., aphid herbivory) and increasing C source strength (i.e., elevated [CO(2)]) on resource exchange between mycorrhizal symbionts. Allocation of plant C to the AM fungus decreased dramatically following exposure to the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), with high [CO(2)] failing to alleviate the aphid-induced decline in plant C allocated to the AM fungus. Mycorrhizal-mediated uptake of (33)P by plants was maintained regardless of aphid presence or elevated [CO(2)], meaning insect herbivory drove asymmetry in carbon for nutrient exchange between symbionts. Here, we provide direct evidence that external biotic C sinks can limit plant C allocation to an AM fungus without hindering mycorrhizal-acquired nutrient uptake. Our findings highlight the context dependency of resource exchange between plants and AM fungi and suggest biotic factors-individually and in combination with abiotic factors-should be considered as powerful regulators of symbiotic function" |
| Keywords: | Animals Aphids/*physiology Carbon/*metabolism Fungi/*physiology Herbivory/*physiology Mycorrhizae/physiology Triticum/*metabolism/*parasitology aphids arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi carbon dioxide climate change herbivory nutrients symbiosis wheat; |
| Notes: | "MedlineCharters, Michael D Sait, Steven M Field, Katie J eng BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2020/04/11 Curr Biol. 2020 May 18; 30(10):1801-1808.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.087. Epub 2020 Apr 9" |
