Partial and full mycoheterotrophy in green and albino phenotypes of the slipper orchid Cypripedium debile

Most green orchids form mycorrhizal associations with rhizoctonia fungi, a polyphyletic group including Serendipitaceae, Ceratobasidiaceae, and Tulasnellaceae. Although accumulating evidence indicated that partial mycoheterotrophy occurs in such so-called rhizoctonia-associated orchids, it remains unclear how much nutrition rhizoctonia-associated orchids obtain via mycoheterotrophic relationships. We investigated the physiological ecology of green and albino individuals of a rhizoctonia-associated orchid Cypripedium debile, by using molecular barcoding of the mycobionts and stable isotope (¹³C and ¹⁵ N) analysis. Molecular barcoding of the mycobionts indicated that the green and albino individuals harbored Tulasnella spp., which formed a clade with the previously reported C. debile mycobionts. In addition, stable isotope analysis showed that both phenotypes were significantly enriched in ¹³C but not in ¹⁵ N. Therefore, green and albino individuals were recognized as partial and full mycoheterotrophs, respectively. The green variants were estimated to obtain 42.5 ± 8.2% of their C from fungal sources, using the ¹³C enrichment factor of albino individuals as a mycoheterotrophic endpoint. The proportion of fungal-derived C in green C. debile was higher than that reported in other rhizoctonia-associated orchids. The high fungal dependence may facilitate the emergence of albino mutants. Our study provides the first evidence of partial mycoheterotrophy in the subfamily Cypripedioideae. Partial mycoheterotrophy may be more general than previously recognized in the family Orchidaceae.

Plant intraspecific competition and growth stage alter carbon and nitrogen mineralization in the rhizosphere

Plant roots interact with rhizosphere microorganisms to accelerate soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization for nutrient acquisition. Root-mediated changes in SOM mineralization largely depend on root-derived carbon (root-C) input and soil nutrient status. Hence, intraspecific competition over plant development and spatiotemporal variability in the root-C input and nutrients uptake may modify SOM mineralization. To investigate the effect of intraspecific competition on SOM mineralization at three growth stages (heading, flowering, and ripening), we grew maize (C4 plant) under three planting densities on a C3 soil and determined in situ soil C- and N-mineralization by ¹³ C-natural abundance and ¹⁵ N-pool dilution approaches. From heading to ripening, soil C- and N-mineralization rates exhibit similar unimodal trends and were tightly coupled. The C-to-N-mineralization ratio (0.6 to 2.6) increased with N availability, indicating that an increase in N-mineralization with N depletion was driven by microorganisms mining N-rich SOM. With the intraspecific competition, plants increased specific root lengths as an efficient strategy to compete for resources. Root morphologic traits rather than root biomass per se were positively related to C- and N-mineralization. Overall, plant phenology and intraspecific competition controlled the intensity and mechanisms of soil C- and N- mineralization by the adaptation of root traits and nutrient mining.

Specialized mycorrhizal association between a partially mycoheterotrophic orchid Oreorchis indica and a Tomentella taxon

The evolution of full mycoheterotrophy in orchids likely occurs through intermediate stages (i.e., partial mycoheterotrophy or mixotrophy), in which adult plants obtain nutrition through both autotrophy and mycoheterotrophy. However, because of its cryptic manifestation, partial mycoheterotrophy has only been confirmed in slightly more than 20 orchid species. Here, we hypothesized that Oreorchis indica is partially mycoheterotrophic, since (i) Oreorchis is closely related to leafless Corallorhiza, and (ii) it possesses clustered, multi-branched rhizomes that are often found in fully mycoheterotrophic orchids. Accordingly, we investigated the nutritional modes of O. indica in a Japanese subboreal forest by measuring the ¹³C and ¹⁵N abundances and by community profiling of its mycorrhizal fungi. We found that O. indica mycorrhizal samples (all 12 samples from four individuals) were predominantly colonized by a single OTU of the obligate ectomycorrhizal Tomentella (Thelephoraceae). In addition, the leaves of O. indica were highly enriched in both ¹³C and ¹⁵N compared with those of co-occurring autotrophic plants. It was estimated that O. indica obtained 44.4 ± 6.2% of its carbon from fungal sources. These results strongly suggest that in the Oreorchis-Corallorhiza clade, full mycoheterotrophy evolved after the establishment of partial mycoheterotrophy, rather than through direct shifts from autotrophy.

Comparative study of nutritional mode and mycorrhizal fungi in green and albino variants of Goodyera velutina, an orchid mainly utilizing saprotrophic rhizoctonia

The majority of chlorophyllous orchids form mycorrhizal associations with so-called rhizoctonia fungi, a phylogenetically heterogeneous assemblage of predominantly saprotrophic fungi in Ceratobasidiaceae, Tulasnellaceae, and Serendipitaceae. It is still a matter of debate whether adult orchids mainly associated with rhizoctonia species are partially mycoheterotrophic. Here, we investigated the nutritional modes of green and albino variants of Goodyera velutina, an orchid species considered to be mainly associated with Ceratobasidium spp., by measuring their ¹³ C and ¹⁵ N abundances, and by molecular barcoding of their mycorrhizal fungi. Molecular analysis revealed that both green and albino variants of G. velutina harbored a similar range of mycobionts, mainly saprotrophic Ceratobasidium spp., Tulasnella spp., and ectomycorrhizal Russula spp. In addition, stable isotope analysis revealed that albino variants were significantly enriched in ¹³ C but not so greatly in ¹⁵ N, suggesting that saprotrophic Ceratobasidium spp. and Tulasnella spp. are their main carbon source. However, in green variants, ¹³ C levels were depleted and those of ¹⁵ N were indistinguishable from the co-occurring autotrophic plants. Therefore, we concluded that the albino G. velutina variants are fully mycoheterotrophic plants whose C derives mainly from saprotrophic rhizoctonia, while the green G. velutina variants are mainly autotrophic plants, at least at our study site, in spite of their additional associations with ectomycorrhizal fungi. This is the first report demonstrating that adult nonphotosynthetic albino variants can obtain their nutrition mainly from nonectomycorrhizal rhizoctonia.

Tracing exogenous surfactant in vivo in rabbits by the natural variation of 13C

BACKGROUND

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a prematurity-related breathing disorder caused by a quantitative deficiency of pulmonary surfactant. Surfactant replacement therapy is effective for RDS newborns, although treatment failure has been reported. The aim of this study is to trace exogenous surfactant by ¹³C variation and estimate the amount reaching the lungs at different doses of the drug.

METHODS

Forty-four surfactant-depleted rabbits were obtained by serial bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs), that were merged into a pool (BAL pool) for each animal. Rabbits were in nasal continuous positive airway pressure and treated with 0, 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of poractant alfa by InSurE. After 90 min, rabbits were depleted again and a new pool (BAL end experiment) was collected. Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) was measured by gas chromatography. DSPC-Palmitic acid (PA) ¹³C/¹²C was analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. One-way non-parametric ANOVA and post-hoc Dunn's multiple comparison were used to assess differences among experimental groups.

RESULTS

Based on DSPC-PA ¹³C/¹²C in BAL pool and BAL end experiment, the estimated amount of exogenous surfactant ranged from 61 to 87% in dose-dependent way (p < 0.0001) in animals treated with 25 up to 200 mg/kg. Surfactant administration stimulated endogenous surfactant secretion. The percentage of drug recovered from lungs did not depend on the administered dose and accounted for 31% [24-40] of dose.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported a risk-free method to trace exogenous surfactant in vivo. It could be a valuable tool for assessing, alongside the physiological response, the delivery efficiency of surfactant administration techniques.

Estimating the contribution of surfactant replacement therapy to the alveolar pool: An in vivo study based on 13 C natural abundance in rabbits

Variation of the isotopic abundance of selected nutrients and molecules has been used for pharmacological and kinetics studies under the premise that the administered molecule has a different isotopic enrichment from the isotopic background of the recipient subject. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of assessing the contribution of exogenous surfactant phospholipids to the endogenous alveolar pool in vivo after exogenous surfactant replacement therapy in rabbits. The study consisted in measuring the consistency of ¹³ C/¹² C ratio of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine palmitate (DSPC-PA) in 7 lots of poractant alfa, produced over a year, and among bronchoalveolar lavages of 20 rabbits fed with a standard chow. A pilot study was performed in a rabbit model of lavage-induced surfactant deficiency: 7 control rabbits and 4 treated with exogenous surfactant. The contribution of exogenous surfactant to the alveolar pool was assessed after intra-tracheal administration of 200 mg/kg of poractant alfa. The ¹³ C content of DSPC-PA was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The mean DSPC-PA ¹³ C/¹² C ratio of the 7 lots of poractant alfa was -18.8‰ with a SD of 0.1‰ (range: -18.9‰; -18.6‰). The mean ¹³ C/¹² C ratio of surfactant DSPC recovered from the lung lavage of 20 rabbits was -28.8 ± 1.2‰ (range: -31.7‰; -25.7‰). The contribution of exogenous surfactant to the total alveolar surfactant could be calculated in the treated rabbits, and it ranged from 83.9% to 89.6%. This pilot study describes a novel method to measure the contribution of the exogenous surfactant to the alveolar pool. This method is based on the natural variation of ¹³ C, and therefore it does not require the use of chemically synthetized tracers. This method could be useful in human research and especially in surfactant replacement studies in preterm infants.

The role of rhizosphere pH in regulating the rhizosphere priming effect and implications for the availability of soil-derived nitrogen to plants

Background and Aims

A comprehensive understanding of the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) on the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) requires an integration of many factors. It is unclear how N form-induced change in soil pH affects the RPE and SOC sequestration.

Methods

This study compared the change in the RPE under supply of NO3-N and NH4-N. The effect of the RPE on the mineralization of soil N and hence its availability to plant and microbes was also examined using a 15N-labelled N source.

Key Results

The supply of NH4-N decreased rhizosphere pH by 0.16-0.38 units, and resulted in a decreased or negative RPE. In contrast, NO3-N nutrition increased rhizosphere pH by 0.19-0.78 units, and led to a persistently positive RPE. The amounts of rhizosphere-primed C were positively correlated with rhizosphere pH. Rhizosphere pH affected the RPE mainly through influencing microbial biomass, activity and utilization of root exudates, and the availability of SOC to microbes. Furthermore, the amount of rhizosphere primed C correlated negatively with microbial biomass atom% 15N (R2 0.77-0.98, n = 12), suggesting that microbes in the rhizosphere acted as the immediate sink for N released from enhanced SOC decomposition via the RPE.

Conclusion

N form was an important factor affecting the magnitude and direction of the RPE via its effect on rhizosphere pH. Rhizosphere pH needs to be considered in SOC and RPE modelling.

Rhizosphere priming effect on soil organic carbon decomposition under plant species differing in soil acidification and root exudation

Effects of rhizosphere properties on the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) are unknown. This study aimed to link species variation in RPE with plant traits and rhizosphere properties. Four C3 species (chickpea, Cicer arietinum; field pea, Pisum sativum; wheat, Triticum aestivum; and white lupin, Lupinus albus) differing in soil acidification and root exudation, were grown in a C4 soil. The CO2 released from soil was trapped using a newly developed NaOH-trapping system. White lupin and wheat showed greater positive RPEs, in contrast to the negative RPE produced by chickpea. The greatest RPE of white lupin was in line with its capacity to release root exudates, whereas the negative RPE of chickpea was attributed to its great ability to acidify rhizosphere soil. The enhanced RPE of field pea at maturity might result from high nitrogen deposition and release of structural root carbon components following root senescence. Root biomass and length played a minor role in the species variation in RPE. Rhizosphere acidification was shown to be an important factor affecting the magnitude and direction of RPE. Future studies on RPE modelling and mechanistic understanding of the processes that regulate RPE should consider the effect of rhizosphere pH.

Decadally cycling soil carbon is more sensitive to warming than faster-cycling soil carbon

The response of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools to globally rising surface temperature crucially determines the feedback between climate change and the global carbon cycle. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the temperature sensitivity of decomposition for decadally cycling SOC which is the main component of total soil carbon stock and the most relevant to global change. We tackled this issue using two decadally (13) C-labeled soils and a much improved measuring system in a long-term incubation experiment. Results indicated that the temperature sensitivity of decomposition for decadally cycling SOC (>23 years in one soil and >55 years in the other soil) was significantly greater than that for faster-cycling SOC (<23 or 55 years) or for the entire SOC stock. Moreover, decadally cycling SOC contributed substantially (35-59%) to the total CO2 loss during the 360-day incubation. Overall, these results indicate that the decomposition of decadally cycling SOC is highly sensitive to temperature change, which will likely make this large SOC stock vulnerable to loss by global warming in the 21st century and beyond.

Carbon and nitrogen gain during the growth of orchid seedlings in nature

For germination and establishment, orchids depend on carbon (C) and nutrients supplied by mycorrhizal fungi. As adults, the majority of orchids then appear to become autotrophic. To compare the proportional C and nitrogen (N) gain from fungi in mycoheterotrophic seedlings and in adults, here we examined in the field C and N stable isotope compositions in seedlings and adults of orchids associated with ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi. Using a new highly sensitive approach, we measured the isotope compositions of seedlings and adults of four orchid species belonging to different functional groups: fully and partially mycoheterotrophic orchids associated with narrow or broad sets of ectomycorrhizal fungi, and two adult putatively autotrophic orchids associated exclusively with saprotrophic fungi. Seedlings of orchids associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi were enriched in (13) C and (15) N similarly to fully mycoheterotrophic adults. Seedlings of saprotroph-associated orchids were also enriched in (13) C and (15) N, but unexpectedly their enrichment was significantly lower, making them hardly distinguishable from their respective adult stages and neighbouring autotrophic plants. We conclude that partial mycoheterotrophy among saprotroph-associated orchids cannot be identified unequivocally based on C and N isotope compositions alone. Thus, partial mycoheterotrophy may be much more widely distributed among orchids than hitherto assumed.

Present dynamics of the savanna-forest boundary in the Congolese Mayombe: a pedological, botanical and isotopic (13C and 14C) study

Isolated savannas enclosed by forest are especially abundant in the eastern part of the Congolese Mayombe. They are about 3000 years old, and were more extensive some centuries ago. The boundary between forest and savanna is very abrupt, as a consequence of the numerous savanna fires lit by hunters. Floristic composition and vegetation structure data, organic carbon ratios, Δ¹⁴C and δ¹³C measurements presented here show that forest is spreading over savanna at the present time and suggest that the rate of forest encroachment is is currently between 14 and 75 m per century, and more probably about 20-50 m per century. As most savannas are less than 1 km across, such rates mean, assuming there are no changes in environmental conditions, that enclosed savannas could completely disappear in the Mayombe in about 1000-2000 years.