Potentials of mycorrhizal fungi in altering eight biomechanical properties of plant roots

Chen, Xun Wen1; Kamchoom, Viroon2; Wu, Jiaqi3; Sun, Guodong4; Zhang, Qiang3; Li, Huishan3; Wong, Ming Hung5,6; Li, Hui1; Wang, Junjian3,7

2023-10-01

10.1002/ldr.4955

LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT   Impact Factor & Quartile

1085-3278

1099-145X

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous and impactful symbionts of most land plants and can regulate essential ecological processes. AM fungi can increase the cellulose content of root cell walls and hence the root tensile strength of grass. How AM fungi can alter other essential biomechanical properties is not clear. This study aims to study the contribution of AM fungi in altering biomechanical properties by comparing mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots. We inoculated three fungal species to vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) for comparison. Eight root biomechanical properties (i.e., yield strain, yield stress, break strain, tensile strength, Young's modulus, plastic modulus, plastic strain, and toughness) were determined for each root using a newly developed Fortran language-based program. Inoculating AM fungi decreased both Young's modulus and plastic modulus by 23% and 17%, respectively, versus control, although it was species-dependent. Yield stress was not significantly affected, but tensile strength was increased by 7%-17% upon fungal symbiosis. Together with the increases in break strain by 15%-20%, mycorrhizal roots possessed a notably higher toughness than non-mycorrhizal roots by up to 36%. Greater root cohesion of mycorrhizal roots confirmed the enhanced (1.5-fold) factor of safety in the soil-root system. Our findings imply that AM fungi are of significant interest in plant biomechanics and geotechnical engineering. Applying AM fungi on soil slopes has considerable potential to improve vegetation and stability of green slopes.

modulus root cohesion symbiosis tensile strength toughness

SCI

English

Corresponding

Funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (42077298, 42277211, 41877350, and 42122054), the General Research Fund (16207521) from the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong SAR, and the Department of Education of Guangdong Pr["42077298","42277211","41877350","42122054","16207521"] ; Research Grants Council, Hong Kong SAR["2019KTSCX159","2020KCXTD006","N10A650844"]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Agriculture

Environmental Sciences ; Soil Science

WOS:001087395600001

WILEY

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.Jinan Univ, Coll Life Sci & Technol, Guangdong Prov Res Ctr Environm Pollut Control & R, Dept Ecol, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples R China
2.King Mongkuts Inst Technol Ladkrabang, Excellent Ctr Green & Sustainable Infrastruct, Sch Engn, Dept Civil Engn, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, State Environm Protect Key Lab Integrated Surface, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Peoples R China
4.Northwest Normal Univ, Coll Geog & Environm Sci, Lanzhou, Gansu, Peoples R China
5.Educ Univ Hong Kong, Consortium Hlth Environm Educ & Res CHEER, Tai Po, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
6.Educ Univ Hong Kong, Dept Sci & Environm Studies, Tai Po, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
7.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Chen, Xun Wen,Kamchoom, Viroon,Wu, Jiaqi,et al. Potentials of mycorrhizal fungi in altering eight biomechanical properties of plant roots[J]. LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT,2023.

Chen, Xun Wen.,Kamchoom, Viroon.,Wu, Jiaqi.,Sun, Guodong.,Zhang, Qiang.,...&Wang, Junjian.(2023).Potentials of mycorrhizal fungi in altering eight biomechanical properties of plant roots.LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT.

Chen, Xun Wen,et al."Potentials of mycorrhizal fungi in altering eight biomechanical properties of plant roots".LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT (2023).