Abstract
Chinese Cordyceps is a well-known medicinal larva-fungus symbiote distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas. Previous studies have involved its artificial cultivation but commercial cultivation is difficult to perform because the crucial factors triggering the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps are not quite clear. The occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps is greatly affected by the soil environment, including the soil’s physicochemical and microecological properties. In this study, the effects of these soil properties on the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps were investigated. The results show that the physicochemical properties, including easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), soil organic carbon (SOC), humic acid carbon (HAC), humin carbon (HMC), and pH, might be negatively related to the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps, and soil water content (SWC) might be positively related. Several soil physicochemical parameters (pH, SOC, HMC, HAC, available potassium (APO), available phosphorus (APH), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and the ratio of NH4+ to NO3− (NH4+/NO3−)) and microbial properties interact and mix together, which might affect the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps. Soil microbial community structure was also a possible factor, and a low level of bacterial and fungal diversity was suitable for the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps. The intra-kingdom network revealed that a closer correlation of the bacterial community might help the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps, while a closer correlation of the fungal community might suppress it. The inter-kingdom network revealed that the occurrence rate of Chinese Cordyceps might be negatively correlated with the stability of the correlation state of the soil habitat. In conclusion, this study shows that soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities could be greatly related with the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps. In addition, soil physicochemical properties, the level of bacterial and fungal diversity, and correlations of bacterial and fungal communities should be controlled to a certain level to increase the production of Chinese Cordyceps in artificial cultivation.
Highlights
Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known as Cordyceps sinensis, is a well-known symbiote of fungus (O. sinensis) and larva (Thitarodes, Hepialidae, Lepidoptera) [1]
The levels of easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), soil organic carbon (SOC), humic acid carbon (HAC), humin carbon (HMC), and pH might significantly inhibit the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps, and the levels of soil water content (SWC) might be positively related with the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps, and the levels of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, NH4+-N/NO3−-N, available phosphorus (APH), available potassium (APO), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and HEC might be related to the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps, while a detailed relationship could not be clarified based on the current study
Several soil physicochemical parameters and microbial properties could interact and mix together, which might affect the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps
Summary
Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known as Cordyceps sinensis, is a well-known symbiote of fungus (O. sinensis) and larva (Thitarodes, Hepialidae, Lepidoptera) [1]. It is distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent high-altitude areas [2] and is usually called Chinese Cordyceps for Microorganisms 2019, 7, 284; doi:10.3390/microorganisms7090284 www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms. Microorganisms 2019, 7, 284 Microorganisms 2019, 7, 284. Ianncdreasusipnpglystuledaidess htoavsoeafroicnugserdetaoinl parrtiicfiecsia[8l ]c.uFlotirvdateicoandoens,ainlacrrgeeassicnagles,tbuudtieitshhaasvneoftobceuesnedwiodnelayrtiimfipcilaelmceunlttievdatdiuone toonmaalnayrguensacnaslwe,ebreudt iqtuheasstionnost rbeegeanrdwinidgetlhyeimmepclheamneisnmtedofdoucecutroremncaeny(fournmaantsiwoneroefdthqeufeusntigounss-lraergvaarsdyimngbitohtee)moencthhaenhisomst oinfsoeccctus r[r3e,9n]c.e (formation of the fungus-larva symbiote) on the host insects [3,9]. TThhee iinnffeeccttiioonn ooff hhoosstt TThhiittaarrooddeess llaarrvvaaee mmaaiinnllyy ooccccuurrss iinn ssooiillss ((FFiigguurree 11)). TThhiittaarrooddeess lliivveess iinn ssooiill dduurriinngg iittss llaarrvvaallssttaaggee(a(abboouut t33yeyaerasr)sa)nadndpuppuaplasltasgtaeg(e40(4d0aydsa)y[s3)].[3T]h.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
