%0 Journal Article
%A Gan, Xinyu
%A Janus, Jennifer
%A Willbold, Sabine
%A Dombinov, Vitalij
%A Kuhn, Arnd J.
%A Amelung, Wulf
%A Reinecke, Diana
%A Calahan, Dean
%A Nedbal, Ladislav
%A Klose, Holger
%A Schrey, Silvia D.
%T Wheat growth and phosphorus uptake from polyculture algal biofilms are synergistically modulated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Serendipita vermifera
%J Plant and soil
%V 514
%@ 0032-079X
%C Cham
%I Springer Nature Switzerland AG
%M FZJ-2025-02556
%P 1923-1940
%D 2025
%X Background and aims:Phosphorus (P) from surface waters can be captured in algal biomass, which can be used as a fertilizer. We investigated the efficiency of polyculture algal biofilms produced on municipal wastewater effluent as a P fertilizer for wheat. We asked whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the beneficial root endophyte Serendipita vermifera influence plant performance and P uptake.Methods:Two pot experiments were performed with wheat fertilized with algal biofilms or highly available triple superphosphate (TSP) at a rate of 37 mg P kg−1, corresponding to 56.8 kg ha−1. In the second experiment, plants were inoculated with AMF (Rhizoglomus irregulare, Funneliformis mosseae, F. geosporum), S. vermifera, or both. P species contained in the algal biofilm and P release dynamics were analyzed by liquid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and leachate analyses.Results:Algal biofilms contained high levels of orthophosphate with low water solubility. P recovery by wheat was lower than from TSP, as indicated by plant total dry matter and total P. In algae-fertilized wheat, AMF reduced growth but not P uptake, while S. vermifera in dual inoculation with AMF mitigated the adverse effects. S. vermifera significantly increased root growth and P content in roots when co-inoculated with AMF.Conclusion:Polyculture algal biomass is an effective, less leaching-prone organic P source for wheat. The synergistic effect of S. vermifera as a root growth-promoting fungus in its interaction with AMF shows the potential and relevance of microbial involvement in using algae-based fertilizers.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%R 10.1007/s11104-025-07493-5
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1042402