Abstract
Wild edible mycorrhizal mushrooms are among the most appreciated and prized mushrooms in the world. Despite the cultivation of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushrooms has been a growing subject of study worldwide, it has been hampered by the mutualistic lifestyle of the fungi. Although not being obligate symbionts, most of the species of ECM mushrooms only produce fruit bodies in association with trees or shrubs. In the present study, we aimed at understanding certain aspects of the ecology of four different edible ECM fungi: Lactarius deliciosus, Tricholoma equestre, T. portentosum and Boletus fragrans. Despite having a broad distribution worldwide, these fungi inhabit also Mediterranean habitats with understories typically dominated by rockroses (Cistaceae). Studying the ecology of these mutualistic fungi as well as the interaction with these species of shrubs is not only scientifically relevant but also pivotal for the discovery of profitable cultivation protocols. We evaluated the compatibility of these ECM species with five species within Cistaceae family - Cistus ladanifer, C. psilosepalus, C. salviifolius, Halimium halimifolium and Tuberaria lignosa. Each species of fungi proved to be able to establish mycorrhizas with at least 2 different plants species but varied in their host range of the tested Cistaceae. The dissimilarity in terms of host specificity between some fungal species seemed to be connected with the phylogenetic distances of the fungi. A correlation between the colonization percentage of the root systems and the mycelial growth rates in pure culture was found. The connection of these traits might be an important key to understanding the ecological competitor-colonizer tradeoffs of these ECM fungal species. Altogether, our study reports unknown plant-fungi combinations with economical relevance and also adds new insights about the ecology of these species of ECM fungi.
Highlights
Edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushrooms are widely appreciated for their gastronomic, nutritional and medicinal proprieties [1]
Mycelial cultures were isolated from fresh sporocarps of the four edible ECM species, Tricholoma equestre, Tricholoma portentosum, Lactarius deliciosus and Boletus fragrans
The DNA was extracted with REDExtract-N-AmpTM (SIGMA-ALDRICH 1 Company), using 1 mm2 of a pure mycelium culture in 10 μL of Extract solution and submitting it to 94 ̊C for 10 min, 60 ̊C for 13 min and 10 ̊C for Species Tricholoma equestre Lactarius deliciosus Tricholoma portentosum
Summary
Edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushrooms are widely appreciated for their gastronomic, nutritional and medicinal proprieties [1]. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is described to be a mutualistic plant–fungus association formed between fine roots of plants and a fungus, mainly ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. This association plays a fundamental role in the ecosystems, affecting the biology, ecology, and growth of forest trees and shrubs. Plants and fungi that are not reported to be associated in nature can establish mycorrhizas in laboratory conditions [4]. This phenomenon is not yet properly understood. The reduction of glucose concentration is frequently used in mycorrhizal synthesis experiments, stimulating the association (reviewed in [2])
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