Occurrence and Distribution of Fusarium Communities in the Root Zone in a Post-Bog Permanent Meadow in Relation to Mineral Fertilization and Growing Seasons.

Teresa Korniłłowicz-Kowalska,Bernadeta Wojdyło-Kotwica,Justyna Bohacz,Michał Możejko

doi:10.3390/pathogens11030341

Teresa Korniłłowicz-Kowalska, Bernadeta Wojdyło-Kotwica + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11030341

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Abstract

The present study is the first report of a detailed analysis of the frequency of Fusarium and genera related to Fusarium colonizing the root zone of clovers and grasses growing in a permanent meadow established on peat-muck soil in a post-bog habitat. The isolation of fungi was carried out on the Nash and Snyder medium with the plate dilution method. The taxonomic identification of the collection of pure fungal cultures was based on morphological features revealed by macroscopic and microscopic observations. The species dominance coefficients, Marczewski–Steinhaus and Simpson species diversity index were calculated. Eight Fusarium complexes were distinguished. The distribution of the Fusarium population was uneven, which was generally reflected in a higher frequency of the F. oxysporum species complex in the clover root zone and M. nivale, F. avenaceum from the Fusarium tricinctum species complex, and F. culmorum from the F. sambucinum species complex in the grass root zone. The highest similarity of fungi was determined in the rhizoplane and the endorhizosphere. The highest species diversity and the highest population size were determined in the rhizosphere soil. The fertilization treatment reduced the growth rates in the Fusarium sensu lato and in genera related to Fusarium, as evidenced by the decrease in the total abundance and species richness. The root colonization by the Fusarium, especially the F. oxysporum species complex, was not accompanied by plant pathologies, which suggests a saprotrophic and endophytic rather than parasitic character of the relationships with the plant host.

Highlights

Drainage treatments carried out in the 1950s and 1960s in Poland resulted in the transformation of over 800 thousand ha of peat bogs into grasslands [1]
The identification of all pure cultures growing on this medium indicated the presence of approx. 80% of the Fusarium sensu lato (i.e., Fusarium; Fusicolla aquaeductuum and Fusicolla merismoides—formerly Fusarium aquaeductuum and Fusarium merismoides; and Microdochium nivale—formerly Fusarium nivale), with a small number of genera related to Fusarium, i.e., Cylindrocarpon/Ilyonectria
The numbers of fungi from the grass root zone growing on the Nash and Snyder medium were characterized by higher variability than the numbers of these fungi colonizing the clover root zone

Summary

Introduction

Drainage treatments carried out in the 1950s and 1960s in Poland resulted in the transformation of over 800 thousand ha of peat bogs into grasslands [1]. The investigations were focused on the occurrence of spores of endomycorrhizal fungi and VA mycorrhiza They involved the characterization of saprotrophic fungal communities in the root zone of grasses and clovers of a permanent meadow established in a post-bog habitat. The present study shows the results of research on the presence of fungi from the Fusarium species complex and the sister group of Fusarium in this habitat These fungi are associated primarily with agroecosystems and their specific microorganisms [12]. Previous investigations of the ecology of Fusarium in arable mineral soils [13–18] demonstrated the “affinity” of the genus to the roots of crop plants and its preference for acidic soils with a low level of clay minerals These fungi are regarded as playing an important role in the functioning of plant communities and the maintenance of biological activity in cultivated soils. E.g., peat-muck soils, exhibit a high abundance of lignocellulose-rich plant residues (dying sward composed of the roots, runners, and rhizomes of herbaceous plants)

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