DOI: 10.5061/dryad.1ns1rn91p
title: Independent and differential effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal composition and plant pathogens on plant traits and nitrogen uptake

description: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as microbial mutualists, interact with
 various microbial taxa, including pathogens, and significantly shape the
 ecology and evolution of their host species. However, how AMF and
 pathogens jointly or independently affect plant traits and nitrogen uptake
 remains unclear. Here we conducted a factorial experiment with three AMF
 treatments (AMF-free-control, Funneliformis mosseae, and a mixture of AMF
 species of F. mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum), four plant-pathogen
 pairs, each under two pathogen treatments (one pathogen and a
 pathogen-free control). After 65 days of growth, we measured AMF
 colonization, pathogen infection, plant functional traits, and ammonium
 and nitrate uptake. Our findings reveal that AMF and pathogens
 independently influence plant traits and nitrogen uptake, with no observed
 interactions between them. Specifically, colonization by F. mosseae or a
 mixed AMF species reduced nitrate uptake and plant height, without
 affecting root traits or ammonium uptake. In contrast, pathogen infection
 enhanced acquisitive root traits, such as increased specific root length
 and area, but did not impact shoot traits or nitrogen uptake. These
 results broaden our understanding of the tripartite interactions among
 plants, AMF, and pathogens, offering insights into how plant-microbial
 relationships influence plant health, growth, and nitrogen cycling.
description: # Independent and differential effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal
 composition and plant pathogens on plant traits and nitrogen uptake This
 file includes all the data and code of the paper about "Tripartite
 interactions among plants, pathogens, and AMF" for readers. The
 descriptions of the column names of data (excel name: data_Pathogen and N
 uptake) we used for statistical analysis. SP: species name QM: *Bromus
 japonicus* PJ: *Elymus nutans* MX: *Medicago sativa* DD: Glycine max
 AMF_T: AMF treatments (control, *Funneliformis mosseae*, and mixed strain
 of *F. mosseae* and *Claroideoglomus etunicatum*) Fm: *Funneliformis
 mosseae* colonization treatment M: mixed strain of *F. mosseae* and
 *Claroideoglomus etunicatum* colonization treatment C: AMF- or
 pathogen-free control Dis_T: pathogen treatments (one pathogen and a
 pathogen-free control) Pa: pathogen infection treatment N_form: N form of
 plant uptake AM: NH4+ NT: NO3- T: Treatment CK: AMF- and pathogen-free
 control; Pa: AMF-free-control with pathogen presence; Fm: *F. mosseae*
 colonization with pathogen absence; FmPa: *F. mosseae* colonization with
 pathogen presence; M: mixed-strain inoculum of *C. etunicatum* and *F.
 mosseae* colonization with pathogen absence; MPa: mixed-strain inoculum
 colonization with pathogen presence. rep: Replicates AMF_infecion_rate:
 measured AMF colonization rates (%) Disease_infecion_rate: measured
 measured disease severity rates (%) lgLA: log10-transformed leaf area
 (cm^2) lgSLA: log10-transformed specific leaf area (cm^2/g) Hm: plant
 maximum height (cm) RL: root length (cm) RA: root area (cm^2) SRL:
 specific root length (m/g) SRA: specific root area (m^2/g) RTD: root
 tissue density (g/cm^3) lgRL: log10-transformed root length (cm) lgRA:
 log10-transformed root area (cm^2) lgSRL: log10-transformed specific root
 length (m/g) lgSRA: log10-transformed specific root area (m^2/g) Nup:
 Plant nitrogen uptake (g) lgNup: log10-transformed plant nitrogen uptake
 (g)