Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions
Abstract Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation is the largest non-anthropogenic N input to many terrestrial ecosystems. The energetic expense of symbiotic N fixation suggests soil phosphorus (P) availability may regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation directly through nodule development and function, and/or...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2020-10-01
|
| Series: | SN Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03518-z |
| _version_ | 1818559452743204864 |
|---|---|
| author | Lindsay A. McCulloch Stephen Porder |
| author_facet | Lindsay A. McCulloch Stephen Porder |
| author_sort | Lindsay A. McCulloch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation is the largest non-anthropogenic N input to many terrestrial ecosystems. The energetic expense of symbiotic N fixation suggests soil phosphorus (P) availability may regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation directly through nodule development and function, and/or indirectly through plant growth. Since P availability is heterogenous in the landscape, we sought to understand if symbiotic nitrogen fixation responds to both P availability and heterogeneity. To test how P availability affects symbiotic nitrogen fixation, we grew Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under high (8.1 g P m−2) and low (0.2 g P m−2) conditions. Soil P heterogeneity was simulated by splitting roots into soil patches receiving P or no-P fertilizer. At the whole plant level, P availability limited seedling and nodule biomass. However, the low P treatment had higher nitrogenase efficiency (acetylene reduced (AR) g−1 nodule; a nodule efficiency proxy). High P seedlings had significantly more root and nodule biomass in the patches directly receiving P fertilizer, but patch proliferation was absent in the low P treatment. AR g−1 seedling did not differ between P treatments, suggesting P indirectly limited symbiotic nitrogen fixation through plant growth, rather than directly limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This relatively consistent AR g−1 seedling across treatments demonstrates the ability of seedlings to respond to low P conditions with increased nitrogenase efficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:25:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de562ca131f1419faab63ec25dec476d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2523-3963 2523-3971 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:25:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SN Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-de562ca131f1419faab63ec25dec476d2022-12-21T23:25:03ZengSpringerSN Applied Sciences2523-39632523-39712020-10-012111910.1007/s42452-020-03518-zLower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditionsLindsay A. McCulloch0Stephen Porder1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown UniversityDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown UniversityAbstract Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation is the largest non-anthropogenic N input to many terrestrial ecosystems. The energetic expense of symbiotic N fixation suggests soil phosphorus (P) availability may regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation directly through nodule development and function, and/or indirectly through plant growth. Since P availability is heterogenous in the landscape, we sought to understand if symbiotic nitrogen fixation responds to both P availability and heterogeneity. To test how P availability affects symbiotic nitrogen fixation, we grew Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under high (8.1 g P m−2) and low (0.2 g P m−2) conditions. Soil P heterogeneity was simulated by splitting roots into soil patches receiving P or no-P fertilizer. At the whole plant level, P availability limited seedling and nodule biomass. However, the low P treatment had higher nitrogenase efficiency (acetylene reduced (AR) g−1 nodule; a nodule efficiency proxy). High P seedlings had significantly more root and nodule biomass in the patches directly receiving P fertilizer, but patch proliferation was absent in the low P treatment. AR g−1 seedling did not differ between P treatments, suggesting P indirectly limited symbiotic nitrogen fixation through plant growth, rather than directly limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This relatively consistent AR g−1 seedling across treatments demonstrates the ability of seedlings to respond to low P conditions with increased nitrogenase efficiency.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03518-zSplit-rootnutrient patchesSymbiotic nitrogen fixationBlack locustP fertilization |
| spellingShingle | Lindsay A. McCulloch Stephen Porder Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions SN Applied Sciences Split-root nutrient patches Symbiotic nitrogen fixation Black locust P fertilization |
| title | Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions |
| title_full | Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions |
| title_fullStr | Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions |
| title_short | Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions |
| title_sort | lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions |
| topic | Split-root nutrient patches Symbiotic nitrogen fixation Black locust P fertilization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03518-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lindsayamcculloch lowernodulebiomasswithincreasednitrogenaseefficiencyinrobiniapseudoacaciaseedlingswhengrownunderlowsoilphosphorusconditions AT stephenporder lowernodulebiomasswithincreasednitrogenaseefficiencyinrobiniapseudoacaciaseedlingswhengrownunderlowsoilphosphorusconditions |