Lagrange Alexandre auteur aut IRD Ducousso M. auteur aut IRD Jourand Philippe auteur aut IRD Majorel Clarisse auteur aut IRD Amir H. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access In New Caledonia, a hot spot of biodiversity, plants from the Cyperaceae family are mostly endemic and considered pioneers of the nickel-rich natural serpentine ecosystem. The aim of the study was to highlight the mycorrhizal status of these Cyperaceae and to bring new insights into the role of this symbiosis in plant tolerance to ultramafic soils. Nine Cyperaceae species were studied and presented evidence of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs), with frequencies ranging from 8% to 57%. The highest level of AM colonization was observed in plants from the endemic dominant genus Costularia. Molecular evidence demonstrated the presence of Glomus sp. inside the roots. In a controlled greenhouse assay, AM inoculation of Costularia comosa grown under ultramafic conditions significantly enhanced plant growth, with an increase in biomass by up to 2.4-fold for shoots and 1.2-fold for roots, and also reduced nickel content in roots by 2.5-fold, as compared with the controls. All these data support our hypotheses (i) that a relationship exists between the mycorrhizal status of Cyperaceae and their habitat, and (ii) that AM have a positive role in plant tolerance to ultramafic soils (mineral nutrition and metal tolerance), suggesting the use of these pioneer plants with AM management as potential tools for nickel mine site rehabilitation in New Caledonia. specialized arbuscular mycorrhiza Cyperaceae ultramafic soil New Caledonia 084 57 1 21-28 2011 0008-4166 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053157 10.1139/w10-096 0008-4166 [F B010053157] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053157 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2011/03/010053157.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2011-04-07 2022-04-23 fdi:010053157 fre