Ectomycorrhizal mediation of competition between coniferous tree species

Perry, David A.; Margolis, Hank A.; Choquette, C.; Molina, Randy; Trappe, James M.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb00344.x

Cited by 131 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(7 reference statements)

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“…It is known that the presence of particular mycorrhizal species in a given soil can facilitate the establishment of plant species that benefit from that fungus in that soil (4,8,18,25,35,36,51,55,59). There are also many examples of relationships between mycorrhizal fungal infection by specific fungal species and the growth rate and/or competitive dynamics of particular plant species (6,12,36,38,43,54,55) and ECM or plant ability to acquire N and other nutrients (16,21,35). Previously, Nara (35) demonstrated that different fungal inoculants can have various effects on seedling growth and N acquisition under field conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Shared by Various Boreal Forest Seedlings Naturally Regenerating after a Fire in Interior Alaska and Correlation of Different Fungi with Host Growth Responses

Bent

Kiekel

Brenton

et al. 2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The role of common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) in postfire boreal forest successional trajectories is unknown. We investigated this issue by sampling a 50-m by 40-m area of naturally regenerating black spruce (Picea mariana), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) seedlings at various distances from alder (Alnus viridis subsp. crispa), a nitrogen-fixing shrub, 5 years after wildfire in an Alaskan interior boreal forest. Shoot biomasses and stem diameters of 4-year-old seedlings were recorded, and the fungal community associated with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) root tips from each seedling was profiled using molecular techniques. We found distinct assemblages of fungi associated with alder compared with those associated with the other tree species, making the formation of CMNs between them unlikely. However, among the spruce, aspen, and birch seedlings, there were many shared fungi (including members of the Pezoloma ericae [Hymenoscyphus ericae] species aggregate, Thelephora terrestris, and Russula spp.), raising the possibility that these regenerating seedlings may form interspecies CMNs. Distance between samples did not influence how similar ECM root tip-associated fungal communities were, and of the fungal groups identified, only one of them was more likely to be shared between seedlings that were closer together, suggesting that the majority of fungi surveyed did not have a clumped distribution across the small scale of this study. The presence of some fungal ribotypes was associated with larger or smaller seedlings, suggesting that these fungi may play a role in the promotion or inhibition of seedling growth. The fungal ribotypes associated with larger seedlings were different between spruce, aspen, and birch, suggesting differential impacts of some host-fungus combinations. One may speculate that wildfire-induced shifts in a given soil fungal community could result in variation in the growth response of different plant species after fire and a shift in regenerating vegetation.In Alaska and adjacent boreal forest regions, the frequency, severity, and extent of fires are increasing due to climatic changes, and this trend is expected to continue and intensify in the future (14,26). Major tree species found in developing postfire forests in interior Alaska include black spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (Picea glauca), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), and paper birch (Betula papyrifera). Plant dispersal and physiological responses to soil, site, climatic factors, and other species will certainly influence which plant species survive and thrive in a given area. However, a likely influence that has only recently been given attention is the role of soil fungi in mediating these plant responses.Despite their importance to the functioning of ecosystems, microorganisms are rarely explicitly considered in individual ecosystem or global process models; the interactions of soil microbes with plants are similarly ignored or are considered a "black box"(45). It is widely known that e...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Shared by Various Boreal Forest Seedlings Naturally Regenerating after a Fire in Interior Alaska and Correlation of Different Fungi with Host Growth Responses

Bent

Kiekel

Brenton

et al. 2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Several studies show better performance, for example, of EM-mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal planted Douglas fir seedlings (e.g., Villeneuve, Le Tacon & Bouchard, 1991). In addition to rapid mycorrhizal infection, hyphal links to larger, established trees might benefit neighbouring seedlings through direct transfer of organic nutrients (e.g., Finlay & Read, 1986;Arnebrant et al, 1993), increased access to inorganic nutrients or water in a greater volume of soil (Eissenstat & Newman, 1990), and alteration of the balance of plant-plant interactions (e.g.. Perry et al, 1989;Perry, Bell & Amaranthus, 1992). Conifer seedlings planted near an established tree might also form a greater diversity and different EM types than those planted in isolation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of soil trenching on occurrence of ectomycorrhizas on Pseudotsuga menziesii seedlings grown in mature forests of Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii

et al. 1997

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SUMMARYSeedlings of Pseudotsuga tnenziesii (Mirb.) Franco were grown for six-16 months in untrenched and trenched treatments in three 90-120-yr-old mixed forests dominated by Betula papyrifera Marsh, and P. menziesii in the southern interior of British Columbia. Each forest was characterized by mesic conditions and low light intensity (PAR < 200 ^mol m"^ s~^) in the understorey. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of overstorey tree roots on (i) ectomycorrhizal fungal composition, richness and diversity, and (ii) photosynthesis and growth of understorey P. menziesii seedlings. Seventeen ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were recognized on seedlings in the untrenched treatment, and nine in the trenched treatment over the three sites. Six types occurred in both treatments, of which on average Rhizopogon vinicolor Smith type was 20 times more abundant and Thelephora type six times less abundant in the untrenched as in the trenched treatment. Of types that formed strands or rhizomorphs, eight occurred in the untrenched treatment, where they occupied on average 23 % of root tips, and only four occurred in the trenched treatment over 4 % of the root tips. Mean richness, diversity, and evenness of ectomycorrhizal associates per seedling were approx. twice as great in the untrenched as in the trenched treatment.Net photosynthetic rate of P. menziesii seedlings was greater in the untrenched than in the trenched treatment in July and August, but not in September 1994. Height, diameter and biomass of seedlings did not differ between treatments, but height: diameter ratio was greater in the untrenched treatment at time of harvest. The effect of trenching on seedling performance was attributed mainly to differences in ectomycorrhizal colonization patterns because trenching had no significant effect on soil nutrient concentrations (total C, total N, NH^-N, available N, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg, exchangeable K), C:N ratio, soil pH or light availability. Nor was there a significant difference in soil water in August, when seedlings in untrenched plots had higher net photosynthetic rates than those in trenched plots. Results suggest that influence of overstorey trees and pattern of ectomycorrhizal formation are important to P. menziesii seedling performance in deeply shaded forest environments.

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“…Furthermore, the connection between mycorrhizal fungi and their host trees cannot be easily established because many fungi are promiscuous and can receive C from several species of trees (2,7,8). Such fungi form hyphal links transferring C and nutrients between plants and can thus influence plant competition (2,(7)(8)(9)(10). Recently, it was suggested, after feeding one seedling with 14 CO 2 and one with 13 CO 2 , that there was a net transfer of C from one seedling to another via mycorrhizal connections (8).…”

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confidence: 99%

Natural ¹³ C abundance reveals trophic status of fungi and host-origin of carbon in mycorrhizal fungi in mixed forests

Högberg

Plamboeck²,

Taylor³

et al. 1999

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

186

166

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Fungi play crucial roles in the biogeochemistry of terrestrial ecosystems, most notably as saprophytes decomposing organic matter and as mycorrhizal fungi enhancing plant nutrient uptake. However, a recurrent problem in fungal ecology is to establish the trophic status of species in the field. Our interpretations and conclusions are too often based on extrapolations from laboratory microcosm experiments or on anecdotal field evidence. Here, we used natural variations in stable carbon isotope ratios (␦ 13 C) as an approach to distinguish between fungal decomposers and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungal species in the rich sporocarp f lora (our sample contains 135 species) of temperate forests. We also demonstrated that host-specific mycorrhizal fungi that receive C from overstorey or understorey tree species differ in their ␦ 13 C. The many promiscuous mycorrhizal fungi, associated with and connecting several tree hosts, were calculated to receive 57-100% of their C from overstorey trees. Thus, overstorey trees also support, partly or wholly, the nutrientabsorbing mycelia of their alleged competitors, the understorey trees.

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Ectomycorrhizal mediation of competition between coniferous tree species

Cited by 131 publications

References 25 publications

Root-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Shared by Various Boreal Forest Seedlings Naturally Regenerating after a Fire in Interior Alaska and Correlation of Different Fungi with Host Growth Responses

Root-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Shared by Various Boreal Forest Seedlings Naturally Regenerating after a Fire in Interior Alaska and Correlation of Different Fungi with Host Growth Responses

Effects of soil trenching on occurrence of ectomycorrhizas on Pseudotsuga menziesii seedlings grown in mature forests of Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii

Natural ¹³ C abundance reveals trophic status of fungi and host-origin of carbon in mycorrhizal fungi in mixed forests

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Ectomycorrhizal mediation of competition between coniferous tree species

Cited by 131 publications

References 25 publications

Root-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Shared by Various Boreal Forest Seedlings Naturally Regenerating after a Fire in Interior Alaska and Correlation of Different Fungi with Host Growth Responses

Root-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Shared by Various Boreal Forest Seedlings Naturally Regenerating after a Fire in Interior Alaska and Correlation of Different Fungi with Host Growth Responses

Effects of soil trenching on occurrence of ectomycorrhizas on Pseudotsuga menziesii seedlings grown in mature forests of Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii

Natural 13 C abundance reveals trophic status of fungi and host-origin of carbon in mycorrhizal fungi in mixed forests

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Natural ¹³ C abundance reveals trophic status of fungi and host-origin of carbon in mycorrhizal fungi in mixed forests