Abstract
This study evaluated the influence of planting sites on the establishment and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) colonization of American chestnut (Castanea denetata(Marsh.) Borkh.) on an abandoned coal mine in an Appalachian region of the United States. Root morphotyping and sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region were used to identify the ECM species associated with the chestnut seedlings. Germination, survival, ECM root colonization, and growth were assessed in three habitats: forest edge, center (plots without vegetation), and pine plots (a 10-year-old planting ofPinus virginiana). Seedlings in pine plots had higher survival (38%) than the other plot types (center 9% and forest edge 5%;P=0.007). Chestnuts found colonized by ECM within the pine plots were larger (P=0.02), contributed by a larger root system (P=0.03). Forest edge and pine plots had more ECM roots than seedlings in center plots (P=0.04). ITS fungal sequences and morphotypes found among chestnut and pine matchedScleroderma, Thelephora,andPisolithussuggesting these two plant species shared ECM symbionts. Results indicated that the presence ofP. virginianahad a greater facilitative effect on growth and survival of chestnut seedlings.
Highlights
Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play a crucial role in aiding the regeneration of plant communities after industrial disturbances such as coal mining [1, 2]
Analysis of soil samples collected at the beginning of this study indicated that all the habitat type areas were similar with respect to the cation exchange capacity (CEC) (31.31–33.61) and the pH (2.8 to 3.1) (Table 1)
Summer temperatures recorded in July of the first growing season were significantly higher in the center plots (38.0◦C) than those in the forest edge (33.2◦C) and in the pine plots (35.7◦C; F (2) = 5.57, P = 0.03)
Summary
Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play a crucial role in aiding the regeneration of plant communities after industrial disturbances such as coal mining [1, 2]. Extensive research has shown that ECM symbiosis alleviates the impact of highly stressed soils on plant growth by increasing access to water and nutrients, mitigating the effects of metal toxicity, and providing protection from root pathogens [4,5,6,7]. These fungi receive carbon in the form of photosynthates from their plant host, indicating a mutualistic relationship between plant and fungi. The severe decline of these microbes may have contributed to the high mortality of planted tree species observed in past reforestation efforts [2]
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