Effect of garlic mustard invasion on ectomycorrhizae in mature pine trees and pine seedlings

Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are mutualistic fungi that colonize the roots of many terrestrial plants. These fungi increase plant vigor by acquiring nutrients from the soil for their hosts in exchange for photosynthates. We studied the effect of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) invasion on the density of ectomycorrhizal symbionts using two approaches. We found that roots from mature pine trees from a garlic mustard-invaded site and roots from pine seedlings grown in soil collected from a garlic mustard-invaded site had lower rates of ectomycorrhizal colonization and fewer fungal tips/cm compared to their respective controls grown in soils from uninvaded areas. These data suggest that garlic mustard invasion has the potential to alter mutualistic fungal interactions and negatively affect plants that depend on these fungi for nutrient acquisition.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Carlson, Lauren A.; McConnaughay, Kelly D.; Morris, Sherri J. 2014. Effect of garlic mustard invasion on ectomycorrhizae in mature pine trees and pine seedlings. In: Groninger, John W.; Holzmueller, Eric J.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Dey, Daniel C., eds. Proceedings, 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2014 March 10-12; Carbondale, IL. General Technical Report NRS-P-142. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 214-219.