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Dryad

Data for mycorrhizal C/N ratio determines plant-derived carbon and nitrogen allocation to symbiosis

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Nov 22, 2023 version files 81.11 KB

Abstract

Nutrient cycling in temperate forests is driven by carbon allocation of trees to soil via ectomycorrhizas (EM). The sink activities of different fungal taxa for host resources are unknown. Aboveground dual labeling of young beech with 15N and 13C was used to trace resource transport to ectomycorrhizal root tips. Isotope enrichment in EM correlated with that in the corresponding EM-attached lateral root, supporting that EM drive taxon-specific N- and C-fluxes. The enrichments with 13C and 15N in EM increased with decreasing C/N ratio of the symbiotic association.  Abundances of EM species were positively correlated with 13C enrichment, demonstrating higher fitness of stronger than of less C-demanding symbioses. Overall, our results imply that differences among the resource traits of EM species regulate the supply of the symbioses with host-derived C and N.

Here we provide the data sets containing information on the identities of fungal species colonizing roots tips of European beech and for N, C, 15N and 13C contents in bark, coarse roots, fine roots, very fine lateral roots, ectomycorrhizal species and rhizosphere soil and for biomass of the different compartments. The data were collected 5 and 20 days after labelling.