摘要

The main objective of the study was to compare the effects of short-duration pH treatments on root hydraulic properties in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings that were either inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma crustuliniforme or remained non-inoculated (control). Inoculated and non-inoculated plants were exposed in solution culture to the root zone pH ranging from 4 to 9 and their root hydraulic conductivity was examined using the hydrostatic method and after subjecting the plants to treatments with 100 mu M HgCl(2) (aquaporin blocker) and 0.02% trisodium 3-hydroxy-5,8,10-pyrenetrisulfonic acid (apoplastic transport tracer). In a separate experiment, pure cultures of H. crustuliniforme were also grown on a slid medium with the pH ranging from 4 to 9 to determine their pH growth optimum and changes in medium pH over time in the presence and absence of 8 mM NH(4)NO(3). When grown in pure culture, H. crustuliniforme demonstrated maximum growth at pH 7-8 and was capable of modifying the pH of its growth media, especially in the presence of NH(4)NO(3). The plants that were inoculated with H. crustuliniforme had a maximum root hydraulic conductivity at pH 7. At this pH, root hydraulic conductivity was significantly higher compared with non-inoculated plants and showed greater sensitivity of root water transport to pH changes relative to non-inoculated seedlings. Relative apoplastic flux was largely unaffected by pH in inoculated seedlings. Fungal inoculation modified the response of root hydraulic conductivity to pH. The increased root hydraulic conductivity in inoculated seedlings was likely due to an increase in aquaporin-mediated cell-to-cell water transport, particularly at the higher pH. A possible role of fungal aquaporins in the root hydraulic conductivity responses of mycorrhizzal plants should be examined.

  • 出版日期2011-8