Search results for "Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores"

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and maternal plant sex on seed germination and early plant establishment.

2015

Premise of the study: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi usually enhance overall plant performance, yet their effects on seed germi- nation and early plant establishment, crucial steps in plant cycles, are generally overlooked. In gynodioecious species, sexual dimorphism in these traits has been reported, with females producing seeds that germinate at a faster rate than seeds from hermaphrodites. • Methods: Using the gynodioecious plant Geranium sylvaticum, I investigated in a greenhouse experiment whether the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal spores affects seed germination and early plant establishment, examining at the same time whether the sex of the mother producing the seeds also influence…