Forest Microhabitat Affects Succession of Fungal Communities on Decomposing Fine Tree Roots

0542428 - MBÚ 2022 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Kohout, Petr - Sudová, R. - Brabcová, Vendula - Vosolsobě, S. - Baldrian, Petr - Albrechtová, J.
Forest Microhabitat Affects Succession of Fungal Communities on Decomposing Fine Tree Roots.
Frontiers in Microbiology. Roč. 12, JAN 28 2021 (2021), č. článku 541583. ISSN 1664-302X. E-ISSN 1664-302X
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA16-20569S
Research Infrastructure: e-INFRA CZ - 90140
Institutional support: RVO:61388971
Keywords : soil organic matter * root litter * forest ecosystem * dark septate endophytes * fungal communities * forest microhabitats * stem decapitation * Norway spruce
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 6.064, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.541583/full

Belowground litter derived from tree roots has been shown as a principal source of soil organic matter in coniferous forests. Fate of tree root necromass depends on fungal communities developing on the decaying roots. Local environmental conditions which affect composition of tree root mycobiome may also influence fungal communities developing on decaying tree roots. Here, we assessed fungal communities associated with decaying roots of Picea abies decomposing in three microhabitats: soil with no vegetation, soil with ericoid shrubs cover, and P. abies deadwood, for a 2-year period. Forest microhabitat showed stronger effect on structuring fungal communities associated with decaying roots compared to living roots. Some ericoid mycorrhizal fungi showed higher relative abundance on decaying roots in soils under ericoid shrub cover, while saprotrophic fungi had higher relative abundance in roots decomposing inside deadwood. Regardless of the studied microhabitat, we observed decline of ectomycorrhizal fungi and increase of endophytic fungi during root decomposition. Interestingly, we found substantially more fungal taxa with unknown ecology in late stages of root decomposition, indicating that highly decomposed roots may represent so far overlooked niche for soil fungi. Our study shows the importance of microhabitats on the fate of the decomposing spruce roots.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0319838