Effects of Soil Transplant and Fertilization on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Colonization in Miscanthus

Marshall C. Robinson*, Jenni L. Kane, and Ember M. Morrisey
Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation No.: 35

Assigned Category (Presentation Format): Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (Poster Presentations)

Student’s Major: Environmental Microbiology

Economically important plants benefit from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a plant symbiont, which colonizes roots and grows hyphae outward to take up nutrients and water for the plant in exchange for sugars. One plant that benefits from this symbiosis is Miscanthus x giganteus (Miscanthus), a promising bioenergy crop. Factors impacting colonization of Miscanthus by AMF should be studied since AMF can aid in heavy metal resistance, drought tolerance, and nutrient uptake. The effects of inorganic fertilization and a soil transplant from an established, highly productive Miscanthus stand on AMF colonization were tested in a greenhouse experiment. Roots were harvested, stained, and inspected under a dissecting microscope. Four testing groups were used: inorganic fertilization, soil transplant, soil transplant and inorganic fertilization, and control. Inorganic fertilization drastically reduced the percent colonization (-7.52%). The soil transplant also decreased colonization, but less dramatically (-2.36%). The testing group with both treatments also drastically reduced colonization (-7.09%) Our results demonstrate that limiting inorganic fertilization should be considered for the propagation of Miscanthus.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's SURE program (Rita Rio & Michelle Richards-Babb)