Long-distance transport of P and Zn through the hyphae of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in symbiosis with maize

We studied the effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus intraradices, on the uptake of phosphorus ( P) and zinc (Zn) by maize (Zea mays) in two types of experimental containers, the Cuvettes and the Starpots. The containers consisted of a compartment colonised by both roots and AMF and two compartments only explored by AMF mycelium. Plants inoculated with AMF took up more P and Zn than non-mycorrhizal plants. The AMF transported significant amounts of P-33 and Zn-65 when the labelled nutrients were located less than 15 cm away from the roots. The uptake of both P-33 and Zn-65 was significantly correlated with the mycelium length density measured near the labelled compartment in the Cuvettes and P-33 and Zn-65 uptake rates were correlated to each other in both the Cuvettes and the Starpots. Development of the AMF mycelium also varied with the size of the buffer compartment.