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The use of inositol hexaphosphate as a phosphorus source by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Article first published online: 30 OCT 2003
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00103.x
1997 British Ecological Society
1365-2435/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=571713c051a4c9b4843f1aa4a484de7ca8661854 "Functional Ecology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
COLPAERT, J. V., VAN LAERE, A., VAN TICHELEN, K. K. and VAN ASSCHE, J. A. (1997), The use of inositol hexaphosphate as a phosphorus source by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Functional Ecology, 11: 407–415. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00103.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 30 OCT 2003
- Article first published online: 30 OCT 2003
- Abstract
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Acid phosphatase;
- phytase;
- Suillus luteus;
- Thelephora terrestris
1. The external mycelia of the ectomycorrhizal fungi Thelephora terrestris and Suillus luteus, associated with Pinus sylvestris roots, exhibited a substantial extracellular acid phosphatase activity. The activity was positively correlated with the ergosterol concentration in the growth substratum and decreased with an increasing P nutrition.
2. The pioneer species T. terrestris grew best at a high Pi nutrition level whereas S. luteus, a ‘late-stage’ mycobiont, produced more active biomass at a low Pi nutrition level.
3. The phytase activity of the external mycelia could not be detected; at the root surface a phytase activity was observed. Mycorrhizas had significantly higher activities than uninfected roots.
4. The addition of a relatively high concentration of a soluble phytate to the growth substratum resulted in an increased relative growth rate (RGR) in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. The influence of the mycorrhizal fungi on the use of the phytate-P was small, despite the phytase activity of the mycorrhizal feeder roots.
5. The addition of phytate fixed on a HPLC resin did not result in an increase of the RGR and P uptake neither in the non-mycorrhizal nor in the mycorrhizal Pines. The experiment did not support the hypothesis that phytate, which has a low solubility in soils, is a useful P source for ectomycorrhizal plants.