Dataset Information

Spatiotemporal Pattern of Acid Phosphatase Activity in Soils Cultivated With Maize Sensing to Phosphorus-Rich Patches.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Acid phosphatase (APase) secretion by roots allows plants to mobilize organic phosphorus (P) in low P soils. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil APase activity in response to P-rich patches remain unclear.

Methods

Here, we grew maize in rhizoboxes with two contrasting soil types and different localized P supplies. In situ soil zymography was applied to examine the spatial-temporal variation of APase activity.

Results

We found P-rich patches can induce the secretion of APase from roots, indicating that even mineral P fertilizers were localized apply, mobilization of soil organic P by roots can also be enhanced; APase hotspot areas and APase activities in the rhizosphere and bulk soil of the same rhizobox showed opposite diurnal rhythms across the whole soil profile. The APase hotspot area was 10-140% larger at noon than at midnight in the rhizosphere, which is consistent with the diurnal rhythm of photosynthesis. In contrast, in bulk soil, the area was 18-200% larger at midnight than at noon, which led to spatiotemporal niche differentiation with regard to the utilization of soil organic P; this alleviated competition between plants and soil microorganisms.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that APase secretion of roots was plastic in P-rich patches and showed an opposite diurnal rhythm with soil microorganisms in bulk soil.

SUBMITTER: Ma X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8076754 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundUnder natural conditions, soil nutrients are heterogeneously distributed, and plants have developed adaptation strategies to efficiently forage patchily distributed nutrient. Most previous studies examined either patch strength or patch size separately and focused mainly on root morphological plasticity (increased root proliferation in nutrient-rich patch), thus the effects of both patch strength and size on morphological and physiological plasticity are not well understood. In this study, we examined the foraging strategy of Neyraudia reynaudiana (Kunth) Keng ex Hithc, a pioneer grass colonizing degraded sites, with respect to patch strength and size in heterogeneously distributed phosphorus (P), and how foraging patchily distributed P affects total plant biomass production. Plants were grown in sand-culture pots divided into ½, ¼, 1/6 compartments and full size and supplied with 0 + 0/30, 0 + 7.5/30 and 7.5 + 0/30 mg P/kg dry soil as KH2PO4 or 0 + 15/15, 0 + 18.5/ 18.5, 7.5 + 15/15 mg kg - 1 in the homogenous treatment. The first amount was the P concentration in the central region, and that the second amount was the P concentration in the outer parts of the pot.ResultsAfter 3 months of growth under experimental conditions, significantly (p < 0.05) high root elongation, root surface area, root volume and average root diameter was observed in large patches with high patch strength. Roots absorbed significantly more P in P-replete than P-deficient patches. Whole plant biomass production was significantly higher in larger patches with high patch strength than small patches and homogeneous P distribution.ConclusionThe result demonstrates that root morphological and physiological plasticity are important adaptive strategies for foraging patchily distributed P and the former is largely determined by patch strength and size. The results also establish that foraging patchily distributed P resulted in increased total plant biomass production compared to homogeneous P distribution.