Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Brody, Alison K.
• Waterman, Benjamin
• Ricketts, Taylor H.
• Degrassi, Allyson L.
• González, Jonathan B.
• Harris, Jeanne M.
• Richardson, Leif L.

Titel

Genotype‐specific effects of ericoid mycorrhizae on floral traits and reproduction in Vaccinium corymbosum

Ist Teil von

• American journal of botany, 2019-11, Vol.106 (11), p.1412-1422

Ort / Verlag

United States: Botanical Society of America, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2019

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek - Frei zugängliche E-Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Premise Most plants interact with mycorrhizal fungi and animal pollinators simultaneously. Yet, whether mycorrhizae affect traits important to pollination remains poorly understood and may depend on the match between host and fungal genotypes. Here, we examined how ericoid mycorrhizal fungi affected flowering phenology, floral traits, and reproductive success, among eight genotypes of highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum (Ericaceae). We asked three overarching questions: (1) Do genotypes differ in response to inoculation? (2) How does inoculation affect floral and flowering traits? (3) Are inoculated plants more attractive to pollinators and less pollen limited than non‐inoculated plants of the same genotype? Methods To examine these questions, we experimentally inoculated plants with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, grew the plants in the field, and measured flowering and floral traits over 2 years. In year 2, we conducted a hand‐pollination experiment to test whether plants differed in pollen limitation. Results Inoculated plants had significantly higher levels of colonization for some genotypes, and there were significant floral trait changes in inoculated plants for some genotypes as well. On average, inoculated plants produced significantly larger floral displays, more fruits per inflorescence, and heavier fruits with lower sugar content, than non‐inoculated, control plants. Hand pollination enhanced the production of fruits, and fruit mass, for non‐inoculated plants but not for those that were inoculated. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that inoculation with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi enhanced flowering and altered investment in reproduction in genotype‐specific ways. These findings underscore the importance of examining belowground symbionts and genotype‐specific responses in their hosts to fully understand the drivers of aboveground interactions.