We tested the contribution of AM fungal symbionts to plant
adaptation under the harsh edaphic conditions found in mine soil.
We employed a full factorial experiment with plant populations
and fungal communities derived from mine tailings as well as from
non-mine sites. Plants, along with their associated microbial communities,
were grown in both low-nutrient clay soils and in mine
tailings. We repeated this experiment across two plant species
using a common grass (A. virginicus L.) and a forb (Plantago lanceolata
L.).