AUTHOR=Shen Kaiping , Cornelissen J. Hans C. , Wang Yongjian , Wu Changbang , He Yuejun , Ou Jing , Tan Qiyu , Xia Tingting , Kang Liling , Guo Yun , Wu Bangli 

TITLE=AM Fungi Alleviate Phosphorus Limitation and Enhance Nutrient Competitiveness of Invasive Plants via Mycorrhizal Networks in Karst Areas

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2020.00125

DOI=10.3389/fevo.2020.00125

ISSN=2296-701X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Eupatorium adenophorum</italic> is an alien species that threatens community stability and diversity in karst areas. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form interconnected mycorrhizal network, connecting adjacent plants and plant species. How mycorrhizal networks affect the competition for nutrients between invasive and native plants in karst habitat remains unclear at present. An experiment was conducted using a compartmental growing device, which was composed of two planting compartments (for the invasive <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> or native <italic>Artemisia annua</italic>) and a competitive compartment (for the interconnected mycorrhizal network). The experiment contained mycorrhizal fungus treatments, with AM fungi (M<sup>+</sup>) and without AM fungi (M<sup>−</sup>) using the species <italic>Claroideoglomus etunicatum</italic>, and the nutrient utilization treatments using nylon mesh to interconnective mycorrhizal networks, including common utilization (Cu), single utilization (Su), and non-utilization (Nu). The results showed as follows: AM fungi differentially increased biomass, nitrogen (N) acquisition and phosphorus (P) acquisition and significantly reduced N/P ratio of the invasive <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> and native <italic>A. annua</italic> under Cu, Su, and Nu conditions. Additionally, the biomass, N acquisition and P acquisition of <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> was greater than <italic>A. annua</italic> and the N/P ratio of <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> was significantly lower than <italic>A. annua</italic> under Cu condition, which AM fungi promoted the accumulation of biomass, N and P for <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> and <italic>A. annua</italic>, and <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> experienced a greater reduction of P limitation than <italic>A. annua</italic> via the interconnected mycorrhizal network. In conclusion, we suggest that AM fungi endow invasive plants greater alleviation of P limitation and enhancement of nutrient competition than native plants via mycorrhizal network in low-P karst soil.</p>