Independent and differential effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal composition and plant pathogens on plant traits and nitrogen uptake
Data files
Nov 20, 2024 version files 55.21 KB
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code.R
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data_Pathogen_and_N_uptake.csv
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README.md
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Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as microbial mutualists, interact with various microbial taxa, including pathogens, and significantly shape the ecology and evolution of their host species. However, how AMF and pathogens jointly or independently affect plant traits and nitrogen uptake remains unclear. Here we conducted a factorial experiment with three AMF treatments (AMF-free-control, Funneliformis mosseae, and a mixture of AMF species of F. mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum), four plant-pathogen pairs, each under two pathogen treatments (one pathogen and a pathogen-free control). After 65 days of growth, we measured AMF colonization, pathogen infection, plant functional traits, and ammonium and nitrate uptake. Our findings reveal that AMF and pathogens independently influence plant traits and nitrogen uptake, with no observed interactions between them. Specifically, colonization by F. mosseae or a mixed AMF species reduced nitrate uptake and plant height, without affecting root traits or ammonium uptake. In contrast, pathogen infection enhanced acquisitive root traits, such as increased specific root length and area, but did not impact shoot traits or nitrogen uptake. These results broaden our understanding of the tripartite interactions among plants, AMF, and pathogens, offering insights into how plant-microbial relationships influence plant health, growth, and nitrogen cycling.
This file includes all the data and code of the paper about “Tripartite interactions among plants, pathogens, and AMF” for readers. The descriptions of the column names of data (excel name: data_Pathogen and N uptake) we used for statistical analysis.
SP: species name
QM: Bromus japonicus
PJ: Elymus nutans
MX: Medicago sativa
DD: Glycine max
AMF_T: AMF treatments (control, Funneliformis mosseae, and mixed strain of F. mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum)
Fm: Funneliformis mosseae colonization treatment
M: mixed strain of F. mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum colonization treatment
C: AMF- or pathogen-free control
Dis_T: pathogen treatments (one pathogen and a pathogen-free control)
Pa: pathogen infection treatment
N_form: N form of plant uptake
AM: NH4+
NT: NO3-
T: Treatment
CK: AMF- and pathogen-free control; Pa: AMF-free-control with pathogen presence; Fm: F. mosseae colonization with pathogen absence; FmPa: F. mosseae colonization with pathogen presence; M: mixed-strain inoculum of C. etunicatum and F. mosseae colonization with pathogen absence; MPa: mixed-strain inoculum colonization with pathogen presence.
rep: Replicates
AMF_infecion_rate: measured AMF colonization rates (%)
Disease_infecion_rate: measured measured disease severity rates (%)
lgLA: log10-transformed leaf area (cm^2)
lgSLA: log10-transformed specific leaf area (cm^2/g)
Hm: plant maximum height (cm)
RL: root length (cm)
RA: root area (cm^2)
SRL: specific root length (m/g)
SRA: specific root area (m^2/g)
RTD: root tissue density (g/cm^3)
lgRL: log10-transformed root length (cm)
lgRA: log10-transformed root area (cm^2)
lgSRL: log10-transformed specific root length (m/g)
lgSRA: log10-transformed specific root area (m^2/g)
Nup: Plant nitrogen uptake (g)
lgNup: log10-transformed plant nitrogen uptake (g)