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Background and aims <p>Legumes commonly form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, yet how this tripartite relationship responds to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) remains poorly understood. Because both symbionts exchange limiting nutrients for plant-derived carbon, elevated CO<sub>2</sub> may increase carbon availability to the host, potentially enhancing the benefits of dual symbiosis. We tested how elevated CO<sub>2</sub> affects plant growth, nutrient uptake, and microbial colonization in the prairie legume <i>Lespedeza capitata</i> when associated with AM fungi, rhizobia, or both.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a controlled pot experiment growing <i>L. capitata</i> under three CO<sub>2</sub> levels (ambient, 600&#xa0;ppm, 1000&#xa0;ppm) crossed with four microbial treatments: uninoculated control, AM fungi only, rhizobia only, and dual inoculation. After one growing season, we measured root nodulation, AM fungal root colonization, plant shoot and root biomass, and plant nutrient concentrations.</p> Results <p>Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> increased AM fungal root colonization and enhanced plant biomass and nutrient uptake, but these responses occurred primarily when microbial symbionts were present. Uninoculated plants showed little response to elevated CO<sub>2</sub>. Dual-inoculated plants produced the greatest biomass and had the highest nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations across CO<sub>2</sub> treatments, indicating synergistic benefits of AM fungi and rhizobia under low-nutrient conditions. Our results suggest that microbial symbionts can mediate the response of <i>L. capitata</i> to elevated CO<sub>2</sub> under nutrient-limited conditions. In this experiment, dual inoculation with AM fungi and rhizobia enhanced plant performance beyond the effects of either symbiont alone, suggesting that tripartite symbioses may influence legume responses to rising atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>.</p>

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Dual inoculation with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has synergistic effects on biomass of the prairie legume Lespedeza capitata under elevated CO2

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月25日

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  • Smriti Pehim Limbu,
  • Kimberly J. Komatsu,
  • Meghan L. Avolio

摘要

Background and aims

Legumes commonly form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, yet how this tripartite relationship responds to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) remains poorly understood. Because both symbionts exchange limiting nutrients for plant-derived carbon, elevated CO2 may increase carbon availability to the host, potentially enhancing the benefits of dual symbiosis. We tested how elevated CO2 affects plant growth, nutrient uptake, and microbial colonization in the prairie legume Lespedeza capitata when associated with AM fungi, rhizobia, or both.

Methods

We conducted a controlled pot experiment growing L. capitata under three CO2 levels (ambient, 600 ppm, 1000 ppm) crossed with four microbial treatments: uninoculated control, AM fungi only, rhizobia only, and dual inoculation. After one growing season, we measured root nodulation, AM fungal root colonization, plant shoot and root biomass, and plant nutrient concentrations.

Results

Elevated CO2 increased AM fungal root colonization and enhanced plant biomass and nutrient uptake, but these responses occurred primarily when microbial symbionts were present. Uninoculated plants showed little response to elevated CO2. Dual-inoculated plants produced the greatest biomass and had the highest nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations across CO2 treatments, indicating synergistic benefits of AM fungi and rhizobia under low-nutrient conditions. Our results suggest that microbial symbionts can mediate the response of L. capitata to elevated CO2 under nutrient-limited conditions. In this experiment, dual inoculation with AM fungi and rhizobia enhanced plant performance beyond the effects of either symbiont alone, suggesting that tripartite symbioses may influence legume responses to rising atmospheric CO2.