Isotope specificity of Gentianaceae species in Holarctic high mountains

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Abstract

Partial mycoheterotrophy (mixotrophy, supply of organic substances through mycorrhizal fungi) is widely spread in mycorrhizal angiosperms. We suggested that alpine species of Gentianaceae, which includes fully mycoheterotrophic species with arbuscular mycorrhiza, can be mixotrophic to a large extent. We studied isotopic (δ13С, δ15N, δ2H, and δ18O) and elemental (С and N) composition of leaves and roots for 13 pairs of alpine species (species of Gentianaceae and neighboring reference species – dycots with arbuscular mycorrhizas) in the three Holarctic mountain systems (the Alps, the Caucasus and Tibet). In contrary to our hypothesis, the organic matter of Gentianaceae leaves and roots was not enriched in 2H comparing with reference plants, which indicates the lack or low significance of mycoheterotrophy in the studies species. Leaves and roots of Gentianaceae had higher values of δ15N and δ18O, but lower values of δ13С and δ2H comparing with leaves and roots of reference plants. Leaves and roots of Gentianaceae contained more С, but N content in the leaves of Gentianaceae was higher and in the roots lower, than in the corresponding organs of reference plants. We suggested, that such the results may be explained by more intensive nitrogen fixation of procariots in the leaf microbioms, which supply better leaf nitrogen nutrition and their more intensive photosynthesis and transpiration.

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About the authors

V. G. Onipchenko

Lomonosov Moscow State University; Teberda National Park; Aliev Karachay-Cherkess State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Bldg. 12, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119234; 1, Baduksky Lane, Teberda, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, 369210; 29, Lenin St., Karachayevsk, 369202

N. G. Lavrenov

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Bldg. 12, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119234

Qian Wang

Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
China, 9, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041

Yan Wu

Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
China, 9, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041

A. V. Tiunov

Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 33, Leninsky Ave., Moscow, 119071

A. A. Klyukina

Vinogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 7/2, 60-letie Oktyabrya Ave., Moscow, 117312

S. M. Tsurikov

Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 33, Leninsky Ave., Moscow, 119071

M. Yu. Ganin

Russian State Center for Animal Feed and Drug Standardization and Quality

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 5, Zvenigorodskoe Hwy, Moscow, 123022

A. A. Akhmetzhanova

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Bldg. 12, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119234

Yu. V. Sofronov

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Bldg. 12, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119234

T. G. Elumeeva

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: vonipchenko@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Bldg. 12, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119234

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Mean difference between G- and R-plants in carbon C and nitrogen N content in leaves and roots (meta-analysis results). Here and in Figs. 2 and 3: p is the level of significance according to the inverse variance method for individual pairs of species and according to the random effects model for all pairs (All); the order of species from top to bottom corresponds to the order of species in Table 1; the size of the symbols is proportional to the magnitude of the inverse variance, whiskers show the 95% confidence interval, and a positive difference indicates that the trait value of a plant from the G group is greater than that of a plant from the R group.

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3. Fig. 2. Mean difference between G- and R-plants in δ13C and δ15N values in leaves and roots (meta-analysis results).

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4. Fig. 3. Mean difference between G- and R-plants in δ2H and δ18O values in leaves and roots (meta-analysis results). Pairs with the reference species Campanula scheuchzeri are combined into one group.

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