@article{fdi:010035713,
  title = {{S}ome {M}editerranean plant species ({L}avandula spp. and {T}hymus satureioides) act as potential 'plant nurses' for the early growth of {C}upressus atlantica},
  author = {{O}uahmane, {L}. and {D}uponnois, {R}obin and {H}afidi, {M}. and {K}isa, {M}arija and {B}oumezouch, {A}. and {T}hioulouse, {J}. and {P}lenchette, {C}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he mycorrhizal status of several representative shrub species ({L}avandula spp. and {T}hymus satureioides) in {M}oroccan semiarid ecosystems, was evaluated as well as their contribution to the mycorrhizal potential of the soil. {F}urthermore, the rhizosphere soils collected under these target species were tested for their influence on the growth of {C}upressus atlantica, a tree species whose natural stands has declined in this area. {S}oil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of {L}. stoechas, {L}. dentata and of {C}. atlantica existing in the experimental area. {C}ontrol samples were randomly collected from bare soil sites, away from plant influence. {A}ll the target species formed {AM} symbiosis and the extent of {AM} fungal colonization was not significantly different between plant species. {N}o significant difference was detected between the total number of {AM} fungal spores of the bare soil and those recorded in the root zones of target species and {C}. atlantica. {T}hree genera of {AM} fungi ({S}cutellospora, {G}lomus and {A}caulospora) were present in the rhizospheres of the plant species and in the bare soil. {T}he number of mycorrhizal propagules in soil originating from around the four target plant species was significantly higher than the one in the bare soil ({F}igure 1). {T}he most probable number ({MPN}) of mycorrhizal propagules per 100 g of dry soil ranged from 7.82 (bare soil) to 179.7 ({L}. dentata and {C}. atlantica) and 244.5 ({L}. stoechas and {T}. satureioides). {A}s the total number of spores was not different for the soil of different origins, the increase of the mycorrhizal soil infectivity ({MSI}) mainly resulted from larger {AM} mycelial networks that constituted the main source of {AM} fungal inoculum. {I}n addition, this {MSI} enhancement was linked with changes in the functioning of soil microbial communities. {I}n a glasshouse experiment, the growth of {C}. atlantica seedlings was significantly higher in the {C}. atlantica and in the shrub species soils than in the bare soil. {A}lthough the {AM} inoculum potential is not sufficient to ensure the development of forest trees in {M}editerranean ecosystems, the use of plant nurses such as {T}. satureioides or {L}avandula spp. could be of great interest to restore a self-sustaining vegetation cover to act against desertification.},
  keywords = {arbuscular mycorrhiza ; {C}upressus atlantica ; degraded forest ecosystems ; microbial catabolic diversity ; nurse plant ; restoration ecology ; revegetation strategies},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant {E}cology},
  volume = {185},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {123--134},
  ISSN = {1385-0237},
  year = {2006},
  DOI = {10.1007/s11258-005-9089-9},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010035713},
}