Foliar herbivory-enhanced mycorrhization is associated with increased levels of lipids in root and root exudates

TY - JOUR

T1 - Foliar herbivory-enhanced mycorrhization is associated with increased levels of lipids in root and root exudates

AU - Xing, Zhenlong

AU - Zhang, Zhongyue

AU - Zhao, Yige

AU - Biere, Arjen

AU - Liu, Siqiao

AU - Shi, Yu

AU - Ding, Jianqing

N1 - Data archiving: no NIOO data

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Insect herbivory can affect interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi through herbivore-modified root carbon pools, while the specific metabolic changes underlying fungal responses to herbivory are poorly understood. Here we explored the impacts of foliar herbivory and mechanical wounding on AM colonisation and AM community composition of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and the role of root metabolites in mediating these effects. Foliar insect herbivory enhanced AM colonisation, whereas mechanical wounding only enhanced AM colonisation in combination with application of caterpillar oral secretions. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of Glomus species was increased in root endosphere, rhizoplane and rhizosphere soils after foliar herbivory. Foliar herbivory also increased the concentrations of fatty acids in roots but decreased phenolics, and their concentrations were significantly correlated with AM colonisation. Addition of exudates from plants exposed to herbivory resulted in increases in AM colonisation of plants without herbivory. Moreover, widely targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that foliar herbivory enhanced the relative abundance of lipids and decreased phenols in root exudates. Synthesis. We show that plants can enhance their associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi when subject to above-ground herbivory, possibly mediated by herbivore-induced increases in the levels of root lipids. Our findings highlight the role of root lipids in above-below-ground biological interactions, providing novel insights into plant-AM fungi integrative responses to biotic stresses.

AB - Insect herbivory can affect interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi through herbivore-modified root carbon pools, while the specific metabolic changes underlying fungal responses to herbivory are poorly understood. Here we explored the impacts of foliar herbivory and mechanical wounding on AM colonisation and AM community composition of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and the role of root metabolites in mediating these effects. Foliar insect herbivory enhanced AM colonisation, whereas mechanical wounding only enhanced AM colonisation in combination with application of caterpillar oral secretions. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of Glomus species was increased in root endosphere, rhizoplane and rhizosphere soils after foliar herbivory. Foliar herbivory also increased the concentrations of fatty acids in roots but decreased phenolics, and their concentrations were significantly correlated with AM colonisation. Addition of exudates from plants exposed to herbivory resulted in increases in AM colonisation of plants without herbivory. Moreover, widely targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that foliar herbivory enhanced the relative abundance of lipids and decreased phenols in root exudates. Synthesis. We show that plants can enhance their associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi when subject to above-ground herbivory, possibly mediated by herbivore-induced increases in the levels of root lipids. Our findings highlight the role of root lipids in above-below-ground biological interactions, providing novel insights into plant-AM fungi integrative responses to biotic stresses.

KW - above-below-ground interaction

KW - Ambrosia artemisiifolia

KW - arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

KW - fatty acids

KW - foliar-herbivory

KW - root exudates

U2 - 10.1111/1365-2745.14272

DO - 10.1111/1365-2745.14272

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85184453050

SN - 0022-0477

VL - 112

SP - 701

EP - 716

JO - Journal of Ecology

JF - Journal of Ecology

IS - 4

ER -