Two-way transfer of nitrogen between Dalbergia odorifera and its hemiparasite Santalum album is enhanced when the host is effectively nodulated and fixing nitrogen

Nutrient translocation from a host plant is vital to the growth and survival of its root parasitic plant, but few studies have investigated whether a parasitic plant is also able to transfer nutrients to its host. The role of N2-fixation in nitrogen (N) transfer between 7-month-old Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen nodulated with Bradyrhizobium elkanii DG and its hemiparasite Santalum album Linn. was examined by external 15N labeling in a pot study. Four paired treatments were used, with 15N given to either host or hemiparasite and the host either nodulated or grown on combined N. N2-fixation supplied 41-44% of total N in D. odorifera. Biomass, N and 15N contents were significantly greater in both nodulated D. odorifera and S. album grown with paired nodulated D. odorifera. Significantly higher total plant 15N recovery was in N donor D. odorifera (68-72%) than in N donor S. album (42-44%), regardless of the nodulation status in D. odorifera. Nitrogen transfer to S. album was significantly greater (27.8-67.8 mg plant-1) than to D. odorifera (2.0-8.9 mg plant-1) and 2.4-4.5 times greater in the nodulated pair than in the non-nodulated pair. Irrespective of the nodulation status, S. album was always the N-sink plant. The amount of two-way N transfer was increased by the presence of effective nodules, resulting in a greater net N transfer (22.6 mg plant-1) from host D. odorifera to hemiparasite S. album. Our results may provide N management strategies for D. odorifera/S. album mixed plantations in the field. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.