Mycorrhizas - Functional Processes and Ecological Impact

254 Pages·2009·2.3 MB·English

by  David Atkinson (auth.)

Mycorrhizas - Functional Processes
and Ecological Impact
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Concepción Azcón-Aguilar (cid:129) José Miguel Barea
Silvio Gianinazzi (cid:129) Vivienne Gianinazzi-Pearson
Editors
Mycorrhizas - Functional
Processes and Ecological Impact
Editors
Dr. Concepción Azcón-Aguilar Dr. Silvio Gianinazzi
Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic UMR 1088 INRA/CNRS 5184
Systems Department Université de Bourgogne
Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC) Plante-Microbe-Environnement
Profesor Albareda 1 INRA-CMSE, BP 86510
18008 Granada, Spain 21065 Dijon, Cédex, France
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
Dr. José Miguel Barea Dr. Vivienne Gianinazzi-Pearson
Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic UMR 1088 INRA/CNRS 5184
Systems Department Université de Bourgogne
Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC) Plante-Microbe-Environnement
Profesor Albareda 1 INRA-CMSE, BP 86510
18008 Granada, Spain 21065 Dijon, Cédex, France
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
Cover illustration: (From top to bottom) Courtesy of: W. Jean Mather, Vancouver, Canada (Douglas-fi r
forest recovering after a low severity fi re); J. Palenzuela, Granada, Spain (extraradical hyphae of mycor-
rhizal Sorghum vulgare); K. Benabdellah, Granada, Spain (cellular structures of Glomus intraradices
extraradical hyphae: wall, green; membranes, yellow; and nuclei, blue) and J. Palenzuela, Granada,
Spain (Salix hastata ectomycorrhizas).
ISBN: 978-3-540-87977-0 e-ISBN: 978-3-540-87978-7
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-87978-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008937138
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Preface
R esearch has provided clear indications on how mycorrhizal symbioses are central
to the multitrophic interactions that occur underground and how these impact the
plants aboveground. Conversely, changes that occur aboveground influence devel-
opment and functioning of mycorrhizas and their relationships with other soil
organisms. However, information is still fragmentary concerning the ecological
relevance of such phenomena in ecosystem dynamics and stability. In contrast,
substantial progress has been made during the last few years in knowledge about
the processes regulating mycorrhiza establishment and their function as mutualistic
symbioses, as well as their ecological diversity. This has furthered understanding
of: (1) the basic biological mechanisms sustaining compatibility and synergism
between the interacting organisms, as well as the genetic and cell programmes
involved, (2) the impact of symbiotic relationships in terms of individual fitness in
ecosystems, and (3) the role of the symbioses in the evolution of plant life styles.
This book integrates present-day knowledge from well-known research groups
on some of the topics which are at the forefront of mycorrhizal research, and in
particular those related to cell programmes driving mycorrhiza formation and func-
tion, the processes sustaining symbiotic mutualism, stress response mechanisms in
mycorrhizal symbionts, and the diversity and ecological impacts of mycorrhizal
systems. As a general introduction, the first chapter by D. Atkinson places mycor-
rhizal research in the global context of the evolution of agricultural polices and
practices. Methodologies used for improving food production in intensive agricul-
ture are questioned, and evidence is provided for the need to enhance the role of
mycorrhizas in order to improve food quality and reduce environmental damage.
The enigma of mutualism evolution is evoked in the second chapter, from the
viewpoint of biological altruism in beneficial microbes. Because of the cellular and
molecular convergence that can be found between mycorrhizal and rhizobial
symbioses, N.A. Provorov and N.I. Vorobyov take the comprehensively studied
legume–rhizobia symbioses as the basis to discuss the role of selective pressures in
maintaining genes for beneficial traits in soil microbial populations. For a long
time, evolutionary research was focussed mainly on antagonistic symbioses but, as
de Bary had already pointed out at the end of the nineteenth century, a gradient
should exist between microbial parasites that help their partners and those that
destroy them. In this context, early fungal–plant interactions are determinant
v
vvii Preface
factors for the outcome of symbiotic interactions and, in the following chapter,
V. Gianinazzi-Pearson et al. review recent knowledge about the molecular dialogue
involved in the primary steps essential to the symbiotic process.
I n established mycorrhizal associations, bidirectional exchange of nutrients and
other benefits that occur require the formation of symbiotic interfaces resulting
from morphophysiological changes in both plant and fungal tissues. The next two
contributions are devoted to ongoing non-targeted research to identify transcripts
(M. Arlt et al.) and proteins (G. Recorbet and E. Dumas-Gaudot) involved in myc-
orrhizal functioning, whilst in the sixth chapter N. Ferrol and J. Perez-Tienda con-
sider in detail the function of specific molecular and cellular modifications in the
coordinated nutrient exchange across interfaces between the two symbionts. This is
followed by a chapter where E.J. Grace et al. evoke the possibility of exploring
functional diversity in plant responsiveness to mycorrhiza at the molecular level, in
the light of mechanisms for P uptake via mycorrhizal and direct uptake pathways.
M ycorrhizas play a key role in regulating abiotic and biotic stresses to plants,
particularly at the rhizosphere level, and this positively impacts on safe food pro-
duction and bioremediation programmes. Research on mechanisms underlying
such beneficial effects has developed considerably in recent years, and two chapters
focus on how mycorrhizal fungi may interfere with heavy metal transport within
plant tissues (M. González-Guerrero et al.) or induce plant resistance against patho-
gens (M.J. Pozo et al.).
Recognition of the Glomeromycota as a separate phylum of true fungi (and the
extension of their genetic variability by combining molecular and morphological
taxonomy) is an important advance in the last decade. J.B. Morton reviews in his
chapter the persisting discord between rRNA gene and morphology-based phylog-
eny, and discusses how this can be overcome within the framework of a balanced
multidisciplinary approach.
T he mycorrhizal condition is the state of the large majority of plants under most
ecological conditions, and therefore these symbioses are a key element in ecosys-
tem functioning. The importance of a spatial context for the understanding of the
ecology and evolution of organisms has become increasingly clear. B.J. Pickles and
co-workers examine methodological approaches for spatial analysis of mycorrhizal
fungi, and show how their application could yield more information about com-
munities than that obtained from simple species abundance and frequency data.
Potential mechanisms responsible for generating and maintaining spatial variation
in populations and communities of mycorrhizal fungi at different scale levels (root,
community, landscape) are then reviewed by B.E. Wolfe et al., and the difficulty in
linking such mechanisms to observed spatial patterns is discussed.
E cological disturbance, whether natural or through human activity, also impacts
on the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi, and ecological resilience of these symbionts
is essential for sustaining productivity. S.W. Simard considers response diversity of
mycorrhizal fungi to disturbance by wildfire or cutting in forest ecosystems, and the
impact on survival and growth rate of regenerating vegetation. Likewise, in their
chapter, R.J. Bills and J.C. Stutz monitor species richness of mycorrhizal fungi
associated with plants in disturbed urbanized, as compared to natural desert, sites.
P reface vviiii
Drivers of alterations in community structure of mycorrhizal fungi need to be iden-
tified. In the forest ecosystem example, reduction in fungal diversity may be
avoided when forest floor and key functional groups of plants are maintained. Such
an observation is of primary importance in defining optimal forest management
practices. The final chapter by A. Morte and collaborators illustrates how success-
ful management strategies can ensure the introduction and production of the desert
truffle, which could represent an interesting model for managing production of
other edible mycorrhizal fungi.
In conclusion, interest in mycorrhizal symbioses continues to expand and to
encompass an increasing range of disciplines. Plants and mycorrhizal fungi have
co-evolved in continuous interaction with their abiotic and biotic environments,
developing a wide range of coordinated mechanisms which considerably favour the
production of primary biomass. Information about such mechanisms is of outstand-
ing importance for promoting sustainable practices in plant production systems as
well as for ecosystem conservation and restoration schemes. In conclusion, the
efficient management of mycorrhizal systems has the potential to favour the sus-
tainable production of quality foods while ensuring environmental quality for
future generations.
W e would like to express our gratitude to the chapter authors for their contribu-
tions and also to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback on the
different manuscripts. It is hoped that the chapter contents will stimulate further
research; the concepts and opinions that are expressed are the exclusive responsibil-
ity of the author(s).
November 2008 Concepción Azcón-Aguilar
José Miguel Barea
Silvio Gianinazzi
Vivienne Gianinazzi-Pearson
Editors
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Contents
1 Soil Microbial Resources and Agricultural Policies ............................. 1
David Atkinson
2 Interspecies Altruism in Plant–Microbe Symbioses:
Use of Group Selection Models to Resolve the
Evolutionary Paradoxes .......................................................................... 17
Nikolai A. Provorov and Nikolai I. Vorobyov
3 Dissection of Genetic Cell Programmes Driving
Early Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Interactions .......................................... 33
Vivienne Gianinazzi-Pearson, Marie Tollot,
and Pascale M. A. Seddas
4 Analysis of Mycorrhizal Functioning
Using Transcriptomics ............................................................................. 47
Matthias Arlt, Dietmar Schwarz, and Philipp Franken
5 Protein Profiling Analyses in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ..... 61
Ghislaine Recorbet and Eliane Dumas-Gaudot
6 Coordinated Nutrient Exchange in Arbuscular Mycorrhiza .............. 73
Nuria Ferrol and Jacob Pérez-Tienda
7 Deciphering the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal
Pathway of P Uptake in Non-responsive Plant Species ........................ 89
Emily J. Grace, F. Andrew Smith, and Sally E. Smith
8 Mechanisms Underlying Heavy Metal Tolerance
in Arbuscular Mycorrhizas ..................................................................... 107
Manuel González-Guerrero, Karim Benabdellah, Nuria Ferrol,
and Concepción Azcón-Aguilar
ix