Mycorrhizal colonization of Palafoxia feayi (Asteraceae) in a pyrogenic ecosystem

Although a number of factors have predictable effects on mycorrhizal colonization, determining generalized patterns for some variables have remained elusive. In particular, fire has been identified as a major event that may influence plant-mycorrhiza interactions, yet efforts to date have yielded contradictory results. Here, we assess the impact of fire on mycorrhizal colonization in Palafoxia feayi, a plant commonly found in the fireswept, nutrient-poor scrub community of central Florida. We determined soil nutrient conditions and percent colonization patterns for plants growing in replicate plots that were burned 1 to 15 years previously. The results showed a negative relationship between mycorrhizal colonization and time since fire, but there was no effect of fire return interval (lapsed time between successive fires). Soil nutrient analyses corroborated previous studies and showed no change in soil nutrients following fire. In contrast to previous studies of mycorrhizal colonization in Florida scrub, we conclude that fire can affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and we speculate that this is mediated by light availability.