Plant signalling and the role played by photosynthates in mycorrhizal recruitment

Abstract

Previous research into the recruitment and regulation of ectomycorrhizalpartnerships have found both secondary compounds such as IAA andhypaphorine and the physical limitation of nutrient exchange to playimportant roles. In this study, Quercus robur seedlings displaying anormalized growth pattern and mutant individuals lacking photosyntheticapparatus were inoculated with a sporal treatment of Tuber aestivum inorder to elucidate a role for photosyntheticly induced signals inmycorrhizal recruitment. We found that Quercus robur that lacked anabove-ground stem system and therefore the apparatus for photosynthesisrecruited no Tuber aestivum, while those with a stem complex showednormal-high mycorrhizal recruitment therefore leading to the conclusionthat photosynthates and photosynthetically induced signalling compoundssuch as phytohormones play an important role within the initialrecruitment of mycorrhiza to plants.