Common Mycorrhizal Networks Enhance Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Non-Mycorrhizal Chenopodium album via Parthenium hysterophorus

Common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) facilitate nutrient transfer between plants, but their role in supporting non-mycorrhizal species remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the effect of CMNs on the growth and nutrient uptake of the non-mycorrhizal plant Chenopodium album, in association with the mycorrhizal plant Parthenium hysterophorus. The treatments included: C. album alone, C. album grown with P. hysterophorus to allow CMN formation, and C. album treated with fungicide to inhibit mycorrhizal activity. Results showed that CMN treatment significantly enhanced the plant growth and uptake of nutrient content (N and P) in C. album compared to the control. There was no mycorrhizal colonization in C. album, while high colonization in P. hysterophorus suggested that the enhanced growth in C. album was due to nutrient uptake transfer through the CMNs. The fungicide treatment resulted in reduced growth and uptake of nutrient content, providing further evidence that CMNs and mycorrhizal associations of mycorrhizal plants, enhanced the growth of C. album. These findings provide the first evidence that CMNs can enhance the growth and nutrient uptake of non-mycorrhizal plants through associations with mycorrhizal partners.