How the composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community affects plant traits of different plant species in karst environments is poorly understood. Broussonetia papyrifera (a woody shrub) and Bidens pilosa (a herbaceous plant) growing in pots in limestone soil were inoculated with an AM fungus, either Funneliformis mosseae (FM), Diversispora versiformis (DV) or Glomus diaphanum (GD) or with an inoculum mixture of all three AM fungi (bn). B. papyrifera and B. pilosa seedlings

more »

... ulated with AM fungi showed a significant increase in biomass and nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition compared with the controls, which lacked mycorrhiza. Mixed fungal inoculations significantly enhanced biomass and nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition by B. papyrifera seedlings compared with single fungal inoculations. Nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition by B. papyrifera mycorrhizal seedlings was significantly greater than that of B. pilosa mycorrhizal seedlings. Fungal composition significantly influenced the mycorrhizal benefits of biomass and phosphorus acquisition and mixed fungal inoculations enhanced nitrogen acquisition. Plant species significantly affected nitrogen acquisition but did not have an effect on biomass and phosphorus benefits. We concluded that AM fungal associations increased plant growth and nutrient absorption and that in general a mixed inoculation of AM fungi enhanced biomass and nutrient acquisition more than a single AM fungal inoculation. In addition, a mycorrhizal association was more beneficial for B. papyrifera seedlings in terms of biomass and nutrient acquisition than for B. pilosa seedlings. ABSTRAK Pengaruh komposisi komuniti kulat mikoriza arbuskul (AM) terhadap sifat tumbuhan daripada spesies tumbuhan berbeza dalam persekitaran kars masih kurang difahami. Broussonetia papyrifera (pokok renek berkayu) dan Bidens pilosa (herba) yang tumbuh di dalam pasu dalam tanah batu kapur telah diinokulat dengan kulat AM seperti Funneliformis mosseae (FM), Diversispora versiformis (DV) atau Glomus diaphanum (GD) atau campuran inokulum ketiga-tiga kulat AM (MI). Benih B. papyrifera dan B. pilosa yang diinokulat dengan kulat AM menunjukkan kenaikan ketara dalam pemerolehan biojisim, nitrogen dan fosforus berbanding dengan sampel kawalan yang kurang mikoriza. Inokulasi kulat campuran telah menyebabkan peningkatan pemerolehan biojisim, nitrogen dan fosforus yang ketara oleh benih B. papyrifera berbanding inokulasi kulat tunggal. Pemerolehan nitrogen dan fosforus oleh benih mikoriza B. papyrifera jauh lebih ketara daripada benih mikoriza B. pilosa. Komposisi kulat memberi kesan ketara terhadap pemerolehan biojisim dan fosforus mikoriza manakala inokulasi fungus campuran telah meningkatkan pemerolehan nitrogen. Spesies tumbuhan memberi kesan ketara terhadap pemerolehan nitrogen tetapi tidak mempunyai kesan ke atas pemerolehan biojisim dan fosforus. Kesimpulannya, hubungan kulat AM telah meningkatkan pertumbuhan tumbuhan dan penyerapan nutrien dan secara amnya ialah inokulasi campuran kulat AM telah meningkatkan pemerolehan biojisim dan nutrien lebih daripada inokulasi kulat AM tunggal. Di samping itu, hubungan mikoriza lebih bermanfaat untuk benih B. papyrifera daripada segi pemerolehan biojisim dan nutrien daripada benih B. Pilosa.