Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal on litter decomposition and growth of Acer truncatum.

[Objective] This study explored the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth and decomposition of dead leaves of Acer truncatum and determined the relationship between AM fungi and the growth status of Acer truncatum. [Method] The Acer truncatum seedlings were subjected to two treatments of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and control without fungi (CK) . In the AMF treatment, Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) was added to the sterilized substrate. In the CK treatment, sterilized Ri and fungicide filtration were added. At the same time, two decomposing boxes containing dead leaves of Acer truncatum were placed in two pots for both treatments. After 180 days of growth, growth index and nutrient contents of seedlings, as well as nutrient contents of dead leaves of Acer truncatum were determined. The decomposition amounts of dead leaves at different particle sizes and their remaining quantities were calculated. Redundancy analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between growth status, nutrient contents and decomposition rates of dead leaves. [Result] (1) Compared to CK, AMF treatment significantly enhanced fresh and dry masses and contents of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium roots and total phosphorus in leaves. There were no significant differences in plant height, ground diameter and leaf total nitrogen content. Total potassium content in leaves was significantly decreased. (2) Compared with CK, total decomposition capacity of dead leaves treated with AMF was significantly increased. The mass of dead leaves with size larger than 0. 15 mm was notably reduced while that of 0. 25 μm-0. 15 mm showed significant increases. (3) Compared to CK, AMF treatment enhanced the release of polyphenols and mitigated the accumulation of total nitrogen in withered leaves, while it had no significant impacts on tannin, cellulose, total phosphorus, total potassium and organic carbon. (4) The correlation analysis revealed that total nitrogen in dead leaves had a positive association with total potassium content in leaves and negative correlations with biomass and nutrient contents in roots and leaves. The accumulation coefficients of polyphenols in dead leaves exhibited inverse relationships. [Conclusion] The ino-culation of AM fungi enhanced the decomposition process of dead leaves, influenced the nutrient availability in dead leaves, and facilitated the growth and development of Acer truncatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]