Effects of a mycophagous Collembola on the symbioses betweenTrifolium subterraneumand three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

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Abstract
Summary: We examined the effect of the mycophagous CollembolaFolsomia CandidaWillem on the symbioses betweenTrifolium subterraneumL. and three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal plants were grown in pots with a central mesh bag which constituted a root‐free soil compartment (RFSC) where the soil was labelled with32P. This allowed us to study hyphal P transport as affected by the presence of Collembola in the soil with roots. The hyphal P transport was monitored by measuring the32P content in leaflets sampled from the latest fully developed trifoliate leaf after 3, 4, 5 and 6 wk. Measurementsoneach plant after 6 wk furthermore included total contents of32P and31P, root length and length of hyphae inside the mesh bag. The presence ofF, Candidareduced the average hyphal32P transport from the RFSC by 12% and the average AM hyphal length in the RFSC was reduced by 30%. The root dry weights of mycorrhizal plants were also reduced by the presence of Collembola. The reduction in total hyphal32P transport was not revealed by the data from the time‐course study using leaflet samples, which demonstrates the uncertainty of analyses of AM fungal activity based solely on measurements of leaf materials.The results from this work suggest thatF. Candidagrazed on roots and/or hyphae of AM; however, shoot yields were unaffected by this grazing. In conclusion, Collembola seemed to have little effect on the functioning of AM fungi.