Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on above-ground tri-trophic interactions are contingent upon plant genetic effects of cross type in the perennial herb Ruellia nudiflora

摘要: Recent work has improved our understanding of the linkages between above- and below-ground interactions mediated by plants. However, relatively few studies conducted thus far have focused on multi-trophic (i.e. beyond two trophic levels) influence plant genetic intraspecific variation these dynamics rarely been addressed. We tested effect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) above-ground tri-trophic associated with canopy perennial herb Ruellia nudiflora, further determined whether effects due to cross type a originated from self- or cross-pollination) influenced interactions. We propagated plants originating cross-pollination, within each category inoculated half AMF. We subsequently established common garden where were exposed naturally occurring seed-eating caterpillars their parasitoids. measured growth, fruit output, calculated proportion attacked fruits caterpillar parasitized caterpillars, also estimated “rescued” seeds parasitoids representing an indirect positive third level reducing consumption. Arbuscular drove 18% 15% increases in growth output respectively, 25% reduction attack, but did not parasitism parasitoid seed “rescue.” In contrast, number, herbivore rescue. More importantly, however, we found significant AMF interaction significantly reduced attack (by 30%) progeny cross-pollination herbivory self-pollination. Synthesis. Results indicate that are contingent upon type, which is likely source for mixed mating systems. Further examining plant-mediated below- should consider specific sources variation, as well address consequences such levels.