Insights into the profile of soil fungal diversity in Thailand

Abstract

Soil fungi are diverse and abundant organisms. However, our knowledge of the global diversity and distribution of soil fungi is limited. This study uses the Global Soil Mycobiome Consortium (GSMc) dataset to explore the assortment of soil fungi in Thailand. The study aimed to evaluate the diversity and richness of soil fungi in Thailand, identify the dominant fungal taxa and functional groups present in Thai soils, and examine the impact of land use and fire on the diversity of soil fungi in Thailand. We identified 18,209 OTUs, of which Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the most abundant in all land conditions. We also found that ectomycorrhizal and soil saprotrophs were primary lifestyles, accounting for around 20%. Our results provide novel insights into the diversity and distribution of soil fungi in Thailand and contribute to understanding soil fungal ecology in tropical regions. The paper also invites collaboration to explore this ecosystem further.