Abstract Detail

Mycology

Duarte, Andre G. [1], Maherali, Hafiz [2].

A meta-analysis of the effects of climate change on the mutualism between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

One of the most widespread mutualisms in the plant kingdom is the association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The strength of this mutualism can be altered by changes in temperature because cold temperatures limit fungal mediated resource transfer to plants, while warmer temperatures can increase the exchange of resources between plants and the mycorrhizae. Changes in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations can also affect the mutualism as rising CO₂ levels stimulate photosynthesis, potentially reducing the relative carbon cost of supporting AM fungi. To quantify plant responses to AM fungal inoculation under varying temperature and CO₂ conditions, we conducted a meta-analysis of experiments that contrasted plant growth response to AM fungal inoculation under current ambient, past low, and future elevated temperature and CO₂ levels. Considering that the domestication of plant species that were artificially selected to maximize productivity in fertilized fields can reduce plant responsiveness to AM fungi, we further categorize plants into wild or domesticated species. We found that warming increased plant growth response to AM fungal inoculation, and this effect was stronger in wild plant species than in domesticated species. In contrast, CO₂ concentration did not affect plant growth response to AM fungi for either wild or domesticated plants. These findings suggest that the mycorrhizal mutualism was likely strengthened by temperature increases from the past to the present and could be further strengthened by future warming. By contrast, the mutualism may not have been altered by atmospheric CO₂ increases from the past to the present, nor is it likely to be affected by a forecasted CO₂ increase.

1 - University Of Guelph, Integrative Biology, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
2 - University Of Guelph, Department Of Integrative Biology, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

Keywords:
mutualism
mycorrhizal fungi
plant biomass
climate change
Mycology.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: MY7, Mycology: Fungus-Plant Interactions: Arbuscular Mycorrhizae, Climate Change, and Microbiome
Location: /
Date: Friday, July 23rd, 2021
Time: 11:30 AM(EDT)
Number: MY7007
Abstract ID:190
Candidate for Awards:Phytochemical Best Poster Award