Different phosphorus (P)-acquisition strategies may be relevant for species coexistence and plant performance in terrestrial communities on P-deficient soils. However, how interspecific P facilitation functions in natural systems is largely unknown. We investigated the root physiological activities for P mobilization across 19 coexisting plant species in steppe vegetation, and then grew plants with various abilities to mobilize sorbed P in a microcosm in a glasshouse. We show that P facilitation mediated by rhizosphere processes of P-mobilizing species promoted growth and increased P content of neighbors in a species-specific manner. When roots interacted with a facilitating neighbor, Cleistogenes squarrosa and Bromus inermis tended to show greater plasticity of root proliferation or rhizosheath acid phosphatase activity compared with other non-P-mobilizing species. Greater variation in these root traits was strongly correlated with increased performance in the presence of a facilitator. The results also show, for the first time, that P facilitation was an important mechanism underlying a positive complementarity effect. Our study highlights that interspecific P-acquisition facilitation requires that facilitated neighbors exhibit a better match of root traits with a facilitating species. It provides a better understanding of species coexistence in P-limited communities.

中文翻译：

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磷促进和草原物种根性状的协变。

在缺磷的土壤上，不同的磷（P）采集策略可能与陆地群落中物种共存和植物生长性能有关。然而，在自然系统中种间磷的促进作用如何是很大程度上未知的。我们调查了草原植被中19种共存植物物种中磷动员的根部生理活动，然后在温室的一个缩影中生长了具有各种动员磷吸附能力的植物。我们表明，由P调动物种的根际过程介导的P促进以特定于物种的方式促进了生长并增加了邻居的P含量。当根与友好邻居互动时，与其他非P动员物种相比，Cleistogenes squarrosa和Bromus inermis倾向于表现出更大的根部可塑性或根瘤菌酸性磷酸酶活性。在促进剂的存在下，这些根系性状的较大变异与提高的表现密切相关。结果还首次表明，磷的促进作用是构成积极互补效应的重要机制。我们的研究突出表明，种间P习性的促进作用要求被促进的邻居表现出更好的根系性状与促进物种的匹配。它提供了对P受限社区中物种共存的更好理解。结果还首次表明，磷的促进作用是构成积极互补效应的重要机制。我们的研究突出表明，种间P习性的促进作用要求被促进的邻居表现出更好的根系性状与促进物种的匹配。它提供了对P受限社区中物种共存的更好理解。结果还首次表明，磷的促进作用是构成积极互补效应的重要机制。我们的研究突出表明，种间P习性的促进作用要求被促进的邻居表现出更好的根系性状与促进物种的匹配。它提供了对P受限社区中物种共存的更好理解。