Data from: Measuring leaf and root functional traits uncovers multidimensionality of plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Premise of the study While many studies have measured the aboveground
responses of plants to mycorrhizal fungi at a single time point, little is
known about how plants respond belowground or across time to mycorrhizal
symbiosis. By measuring belowground responses as well as growth over time
in many plant species, we create a more complete picture of how
mycorrhizal fungi benefit their hosts. Methods We grew 26 prairie plant
species with and without mycorrhizal fungi and measured fourteen
functional traits measuring above and belowground tissue quality and
quantity responses and changes in resource allocation. We used
function-value trait (FVT) modeling to characterize changes in species
growth rate when colonized. Key results While aboveground biomass
responses were positive, the response of traits belowground were much more
variable. Changes in aboveground biomass accounted for 60.8% of the
variation in mycorrhizal responses, supporting the use of aboveground
biomass response as the primary response trait. Responses belowground were
not associated with aboveground responses and accounted for 18.3% of the
variation. Growth responses over time were highly variable across species.
Interestingly, none of the measured responses were phylogenetically
conserved. Conclusions Mycorrhizal fungi increase plant growth in most
scenarios, but the effects of these fungi belowground and across time are
more complicated. This study highlights how differences in plant
allocation priorities might affect how they utilize the benefits from
mycorrhizal fungi. Identifying and characterizing these differences is a
key step to understanding the effects of mycorrhizal mutualisms on whole
plant physiology.