Diversity of Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities in Four Types of Stands in Pinus massoniana Plantation in the West of China

Xiangjun Li,Jiangli Liu,Haifeng Yin,Wensi Kang,Yu Su,Qian Lyu,Junjie Liu,Xianwei Li,Chuan Fan,Size Liu,Gang Chen,Kuangji Zhao

doi:10.3390/f12060719

Xiangjun Li, Jiangli Liu + Show 10 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f12060719

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Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can form symbioses with plant roots, which play an important role in regulating the rhizosphere microenvironment. As a broad-spectrum ECM tree species, Pinus massoniana forms symbiotic relationship called mycorrhiza with various ECM fungal species. In this study, four types of forests were selected from a 38-year-old Pinus plantation in eastern Sichuan, namely, pure P. massoniana forest (MC), P. massoniana mixed with Cunninghamia lanceolata forest (MS), P. massoniana–Cryptomeria fortunei forest (ML), and P. massoniana–broadleaved forest (MK), the species mixture ratio of all forests was 1:1. The ITS2 segment of ECM root tip sequenced by high-throughput sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. (1) The ECM fungi of these four P. massoniana forests showed similar dominant genera but different relative abundances in community structure during the three seasons. (2) The alpha diversity index of ECM fungi was significantly influenced by season and forest type. (3) Soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), C/N ratio, and total phosphorus (TP) influenced the ECM fungal community structure in different seasons. In summary, there were significant differences in ECM fungal communities among different forest types and different seasons; the colonization rate of ECM fungal in P. massoniana–Cunninghamia lanceolata was the highest, so we infer that Cunninghamia lanceolata is the most suitable tree species for mixed with P. massoniana in three mixture forests.

Highlights

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is a native tree species endemic to China that has important economic and ecological value and has symbioses with a variety of fungi that form ectomycorrhizae [1]
Inoculation experiments showed that P. massoniana seedlings inoculated with ECM fungi show improved adaptability to heavy metal stress and an improved survival rate compared with non-mycorrhized seedlings [10,11]
As a near-natural forest management model, the mixed forest is of great significance for improving the quality of plantations

Summary

Introduction

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is a native tree species endemic to China that has important economic and ecological value and has symbioses with a variety of fungi that form ectomycorrhizae [1]. Is a native tree species endemic to China that has important economic and ecological value and has symbioses with a variety of fungi that form ectomycorrhizae [1]. Mixed forests increase the diversity of tree species, but they change the living environment of the animals, plants, and microorganisms. ECM fungi play an important role in the. ECM fungi promote the growth of host plants. Ectomycorrhizal symbionts mainly expand the absorption area and range of the root system through the structure of the sheath and epitaxial mycelia, promoting the absorption of water and nutrients by the host plants [5]. The epitaxial hyphae of ectomycorrhizae increase the water absorption area and improve the hydraulic conductivity of the root system, and the ring traps can prevent water loss [7,8]. It has been reported that soil nutrients are the most important factor affecting the diversity and richness of ECM fungi, and a higher soil nutrient content has a negative impact on the diversity and richness of ECM fungi [14,15]

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