Sex‐specific strategies of phosphorus (P) acquisition in Populus cathayana as affected by soil P availability and distribution.

Xia, Zhichao; He, Yue; Yu, Lei; Lv, Rubing; Korpelainen, Helena; Li, Chunyang

Summary: Soil phosphorus (P) availability and its distribution influence plant growth and productivity, but how they affect the growth dynamics and sex‐specific P acquisition strategies of dioecious plant species is poorly understood.In this study, the impact of soil P availability and its distribution on dioecious Populus cathayana was characterized. P. cathayana males and females were grown under three levels of P supply, and with homogeneous or heterogeneous P distribution.Females had a greater total root length, specific root length (SRL), biomass and foliar P concentration under high P supply. Under P deficiency, males had a smaller root system than females but a greater exudation of soil acid phosphatase, and a higher colonization rate and arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphal biomass, suggesting a better capacity to mine P and a stronger association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to forage P. Heterogeneous P distribution enhanced growth and root length density (RLD) in females. Female root proliferation in P‐rich patches was related to increased foliar P assimilation. Localized P application for increasing P availability did not enhance the biomass accumulation and the morphological plasticity of roots in males, but it raised hyphal biomass.The findings herein indicate that sex‐specific strategies in P acquisition relate to root morphology, root exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses, and they may contribute to sex‐specific resource utilization patterns and niche segregation.

VESICULAR-arbuscular mycorrhizas; ACID phosphatase; POPLARS; ACID soils; DIOECIOUS plants

New Phytologist, 2020, Vol 225, Issue 2, p782

0028-646X

Academic Journal

10.1111/nph.16170