Mycorrhizal Patterns in the Roots of Dominant Festuca rubra in a High-Natural-Value Grassland

Abstract

Grassland ecosystems occupy significant areas worldwide and represent a reservoir for biodiversity. These areas are characterized by oligotrophic conditions that stimulate mycorrhizal symbiotic partnerships to meet nutritional requirements. In this study, we selected Festuca rubra for its dominance in the studied mountain grassland, based on the fact that grasses more easily accept a symbiotic partner. Quantification of the entire symbiosis process, both the degree of colonization and the presence of a fungal structure, was performed using the root mycorrhizal pattern method. Analysis of data normality indicated colonization frequency as the best parameter for assessing the entire mycorrhizal mechanism, with five equal levels, each of 20%. Most of the root samples showed an intensity of colonization between 0 and 20% and a maximum of arbuscules of about 5%. The colonization degree had an average value of 35%, which indicated a medium permissiveness of roots for mycorrhizal partners. Based on frequency regression models, the intensity of colonization presented high fluctuations at 50% frequency, while the arbuscule development potential was set to a maximum of 5% in mycorrhized areas. Arbuscules were limited due to the unbalanced and unequal root development and their colonizing hyphal networks. The general regression model indicated that only 20% of intra-radicular hyphae have the potential to form arbuscules. The colonization patterns of dominant species in mountain grasslands represent a necessary step for improved understanding of the symbiont strategies that sustain the stability and persistence of these species.

Responses of Diversity and Productivity to Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Inputs in a High-Natural-Value Grassland, Transylvanian Plain, Romania

“…However, these plant species of indicative value may be considered as bioindicators for the control, only in the participation registered in the case of control phytocenoses. Our results regarding the identification of plant species with indicator value are also confirmed by other specialized studies, such as [ 11 , 17 , 29 , 46 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Differences in Mycorrhizal Status Induced by Long-Term Fertilization in Roots of Perennial Grassland Species

“…The roots of the two dominant species were harvested after the time of flowering, on July 15, 2020. All samples were prepared and analyzed based on MycoPatt tool, with the methodological changes performed by Corcoz et al [18].…”

Long-Term Fertilization Alters Mycorrhizal Colonization Strategy in the Roots of Agrostis capillaris

“…The overall microscopic images were 15 for each of the analyzed segments and reassembled into one larger image to provide the mycorrhizal colonization base for an entire segment. Images from each segment were coded based on the indexes in the mycorrhizal pattern method [50] in order to be further converted with the MycoPatt tool [50] in colors and to provide the colonization image and patterns [51,52]. From the entire experiment resulted a database of 4500 values for each of the colonization parameters: colonization frequency (%); colonization intensity (%); arbuscules and vesicles abundance (%); the overall colonization degree (%); the share of non-mycorrhizal areas (%) in roots; the report between mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized areas and the report between arbuscules and vesicles.…”