Relationship between mycorrhizal dependency and rate variables associated with P uptake, utilization and growth

Abstract

A greenhouse investigation was undertaken to determine the relationship between mycorrhizal dependency of host species and rate variables associated with their P uptake, P utilization and growth. The results indicated that species that are marginally dependent on VAM fungi tend to have lower P utilization efficiency, higher P absorption rate and higher growth rates compared to moderately or highly VAM dependent species when they are not colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. The results also demonstrated that species differing in growth rates could differ in their mycorrhizal dependency even when they have similar root morphological characteristics.