Fungal symbiont diversity drives growth of Holcus lanatus depending on soil nutrient availability
Data files
Jan 22, 2024 version files 158.14 KB
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Data_For_Dryad_Sinanaj_et_al_2024_Final_Version.xlsx
145.80 KB
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README.md
12.34 KB
Abstract
- Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi frequently colonise plant roots and can affect plant morphology and physiology through their contribution to plant nutrition. However, the functional role of AM fungi in the presence of other microbial symbionts, including widespread Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophytes’ (MFRE) fungi, remains largely unknown.
- While both AM fungi and MFRE transfer nutrients, including nitrogen, from inorganic and organic sources to host plants, their combined effects on co-colonised plants have only been investigated in liverworts. Here, we compare the morphology and physiology of the grass Holcus lanatus grown with an AM fungal community versus a more diverse symbiotic fungal community containing both AM fungi and MFRE.
- Holcus lanatus plants were grown in the presence of either a diverse MFRE+AM fungi soil inoculum or a multi-species AM fungal inoculum. Plant traits associated with growth were quantified, along with fungal transfer of 15N tracer to plants from a variety of sources (ammonium chloride, alanine, glycine, algal necromass).
- Holcus lanatus grown with the AM fungal community had greater root and shoot growth during early development and prior to the addition of 15N-labelled sources, compared to plants grown with the more diverse symbiotic fungal community. When nitrogen sources were made available to the fungal symbionts in the pot microcosms, plants growing with the MFRE+AM fungi soil inoculum had a faster growth rate than plants growing with the AM fungal community. At harvest, H. lanatus grown with the AM fungal community had a larger biomass and there were no differences in 15N tracer assimilation in plants across the two fungal community treatments.
- Our results demonstrate that the diversity of fungal inocula in conjunction with soil nutrient availability determines the benefits derived by plants from diverse fungal symbionts. Our research contributes to understanding host plant outcomes in diverse multi-symbiont scenarios.
README: Fungal symbiont diversity drives growth of Holcus lanatus depending on soil nutrient availability
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pc866t1ww
The dataset contains data collected periodically during the pot experiment (Number of Tillers, Number of Leaves, Maximum Canopy Height & RGR, Chlorophyll content (SPAD)), and at the endpoint of the experiment (Fungal colonisation data, Hyphal length data, Biomasses, 15N and N in shoots, 15N and N in roots). Raw and processed data are included.
Description of the data and file structure
The dataset was collected from a single pot experiment using measurements taken by hand/through observation or using specialist equipment. A detailed account of each Excel sheet contained within the data file is provided:
Sheet 1: Fungal colonisation.
Number of samples analysed = 48
- Pot ID: pot number identifier
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- FOV: Fields of View
- MFRE COL: Line intersect with MFRE colonisation structures.
- AM COL: Line intersect with AM colonisation structures.
- % TRL colonisation with MFRE: % Total Root Length colonisation with MFRE
- % TRL colonisation with AM : % Total Root Length colonisation with AM fungi
- MFRE% composition: composition of colonising fungi that were MFRE.
- AM% composition: composition of colonising fungi that were AM fungi.
Sheet 2: Hyphal length.
Number of samples analysed: 144
- Pot ID & fungal treatment: pot number identifier and fungi within the pots, i.e. AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Rep: Replicate number
- Fungi quantified: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; MFRE = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope.
- Pre freeze-dried soil FW (g): fresh weight of soil substrate in pot
- Post freeze-dried soil DW (g): dry weight of soil substrate in pot.
- Proportion of dry soil: Pot dry weight divided by pot fresh weight.
- Bulk soil weighed out FW (g) : Fresh weight of soil subsample analysed.
- Bulk soil weighed out DW (g): Dry weight of soil subsample analysed.
- Sample counts: Microscope gridline intersects with fungal structures.
- Fields of View : Fields of View examined.
- Hyphae per Field of View: hyphae per Field of View
- mm hyphae g-1 soil DW: mm hyphae per gram of soil dry weight calculated using formula described in Brundrett et al. 1994.
- m hyphae g-1 soil DW: m hyphae per gram of soil dry weight
- Pot Average m hyphae per gram of soil DW: average m hyphae per gram of soil dry weight for each pot, based on combining the data for the two replicates of each pot.
Sheet 3: Biomasses.
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Pot ID: pot number identifier
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Roots fresh weight: total (g): total fresh weight of roots
- Roots fresh weight: after sampling for root colonisation (g): total fresh weight of remaining roots after a subsample was taken for colonisation analysis.
- Freeze-dried remaining roots (g): dry weight of remaining roots after the subsample had been taken
- Roots dry weight: total (g): total dry weight of roots, which includes the root subsample
- Roots dry weight: total (mg): total dry weight of roots
- Shoot dry weight: total (g): total dry weight of shoots after they were freeze-dried.
- Root to shoot ratio: root dry weight divided by shoot dry weight.
- Bulk pot soil fresh weight: total (g): fresh weight of soil substrate in pot
- Bulk pot soil dry weight: total (g): dry weight of soil substrate in pot
- Core with isotope tracer dry weight: total (g): dry weight of soil substrate in core containing labelled nutrients.
- Core without isotope tracer dry weight: total (g): dry weight of soil substrate in core containing no labelled nutrients.
Sheet 4: Number of Tillers.
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Pot ID: pot number identifier
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11: Average number of tillers on a plant per pot at each week of growth
- Tiller number Change (%): Change in the average number of tillers on a plant per pot between Week 8 and Week 11.
Sheet 5: Number of Leaves.
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Pot ID: pot number identifier
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11: Average number of leaves on a plant per pot at each week of growth
- Leaf number Change (%): Change in the average number of leaves on a plant per pot between Week 8 and Week 11.
Sheet 6: Maximum Canopy Height & RGR.
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Pot ID: pot number identifier
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope.
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11: Tallest Leaf per pot (i.e. Maximum Canopy Height) (mm) at each week of growth
- Maximum Canopy Height Change (%): Change in the Maximum Canopy Height per pot between Week 8 and Week 11.
- Relative growth rate at 8 weeks: Relative growth rate at 8 weeks
- Relative growth rate at 11 weeks: Relative growth rate at 11 weeks
- Change in RGR: Change in the Relative growth rate per pot between Week 8 and Week 11.
- Change in RGR (with direction of change): number with “-” = decrease in RGR; number with “+” = increase in RGR.
Sheet 7: Chlorophyll content (SPAD).
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Pot ID: pot number identifier
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11: Average Minolta SPAD reading (chlorophyll content) per pot at each week of growth
- Change in Chlorophyll Content (%): Change in the average Minolta SPAD reading (chlorophyll content) per pot between Week 8 and Week 11.
Sheet 8: 15N and N in shoots.
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Rows 2 to 5 contain data for control samples (Shoots BLANK), which provide the background 15N levels in unlabelled plants. In these rows, cells that fall under columns D to G contain data; all other cells in these rows are left intentionally blank.
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope.
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Sample ID: Plant tissue type and pot number identifier
- %N: Mass spectrometry output; % nitrogen in sample
- 15N Atom %: Mass spectrometry output; % 15N isotope in sample
- 15N Delta Air: Mass spectrometry output (not used in paper or analyses); a measure of the ratio of the two stable isotopes of nitrogen, 15N:14N
- Atom % Excess: Sample 15N Atom % – average 15N Atom % of shoot BLANK samples
- total shoot biomass (DW mg): total dry weight of shoots
- total shoot biomass (DW g): total dry weight of shoots
- mass of N (mg): absolute mass of N in shoot tissues
- mass of 15N (mg): absolute mass of 15N in shoot tissues
- mass of 15N (ug): absolute mass of 15N in shoot tissues
- concentration of 15N (ug/g shoot DW): concentration of 15N in shoot tissues (dry weight)
- Fungal-acquired mass of 15N (ug): [mass of 15N in shoot tissues for pot with static core] minus [average mass of 15N in shoot tissues for pots with rotated cores (shown in bold within column O)].
- Fungal-acquired concentration of 15N (ug/g shoot DW): Fungal-acquired mass of 15N in shoot tissue divided by total shoot biomass.
Sheet 9: 15N and N in roots.
Number of samples analysed = 96
- Rows 2 to 5 contain data for control samples (Roots BLANK), which provide the background 15N levels in unlabelled plants. In these rows, cells that fall under columns D to G contain data; all other cells in these rows are left intentionally blank.
- 15N-labelled source: the nutrient source in each pot that was made up of 15N isotope.
- Fungal Treatment: AM = arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; MFRE+AM = Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
- Core with isotope tracer: the status (rotated or static) of the plastic core containing labelled nutrients that were only accessible to fungi.
- Sample ID: Plant tissue type and pot number identifier
- %N: Mass spectrometry output; % nitrogen in sample
- 15N Atom %: Mass spectrometry output; % 15N isotope in sample
- 15N Delta Air: Mass spectrometry output (not used in paper or analyses); a measure of the ratio of the two stable isotopes of nitrogen, 15N:14N
- Atom % Excess: Sample 15N Atom % – average 15N Atom % of root BLANK samples
- total root biomass (DW mg): total dry weight of roots
- total root biomass (DW g): total dry weight of roots
- mass of N (mg): absolute mass of N in root tissues
- mass of 15N (mg): absolute mass of 15N in root tissues
- mass of 15N (ug): absolute mass of 15N in root tissues
- concentration of 15N (ug/g root DW): concentration of 15N in root tissues (dry weight)
- Fungal-acquired mass of 15N (ug): [mass of 15N in root tissues for pot with static core] minus [average mass of 15N in root tissues for pots with rotated cores (shown in bold within column O)].
- Fungal-acquired concentration of 15N (ug/g root DW): Fungal-acquired mass of 15N in root tissue divided by total root biomass.
Methods
The dataset was collected from a single pot experiment using measurements taken by hand/through observation or using specialist equipment. A detailed account is provided:
- Fungal colonisation data – harvested root material was mounted on microscope slides and fungal structures were quantified manually under a compound microscope through observation.
- Hyphal length data – isolated fungal hyphae from soil were mounted on microscope slides and fungal structures were quantified manually under a compound microscope through observation.
- Biomasses – harvested material was weighed on electronic scales.
- Number of Tillers – plant tillers were quantified weekly through counting by hand.
- Number of Leaves – plant leaves were quantified weekly through counting by hand.
- Maximum Canopy Height & RGR – the height of the tallest leaf was measured weekly using hand-held callipers. From this data, the relative growth rate per pot was determined (see equations within Excel sheet).
- Chlorophyll content (SPAD) – relative chlorophyll content from the tallest leaf was measured using a hand-held Minolta SPAD meter.
- 15N and N in shoots – shoot material was analysed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to produce values for %N, 15N Atom % and 15N Delta Air, which were then processed with the recorded biomass data to give absolute and concentration data for nitrogen. All steps are detailed in the Excel sheet.
- 15N and N in roots – root material was analysed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to produce values for %N, 15N Atom % and 15N Delta Air, which were then processed with the recorded biomass data to give absolute and concentration data for nitrogen. All steps are detailed in the Excel sheet.