Abstract
The linden tree (Tilia spp.) is a popular tree for landscaping and urban environments in central and northwest European countries, and it is one of the most popular in cities in Poland. Ectomycorrhizal fungi form a symbiosis with many urban tree species and protect the host plant from heavy metals and against salinity. The aim of this study was to characterise the ECM fungal community of urban linden trees along the tree damage gradient. The study was performed on two sites located in the centre of the city of Gdańsk, in northern Poland. The vitality assessment of urban linden trees was made according to Roloff’s classification. Tree damage classes were related to soil characteristics using principal component analysis. The five ectomycorrhizal fungal species were shared among all four tree damage classes, and Cenococcum geophilum was found to be the most abundant and frequent ectomycorrhizal fungal species in each class. Soil samples collected in the vicinity of trees belonging to the R0 class had significantly lower pH Na, Cl and Pb content than other soils. Our knowledge of ectomycorrhizal communities in urban areas is still limited, and these findings provide new insights into ectomycorrhizal distribution patterns in urban areas.
Highlights
IntroductionCity managers are obliged to ensure sustainability and environmental benefits for city dwellers, so they introduce trees as a valuable component of an urban ecosystem [2]
The most heavily human-modified ecosystems, cities, are expanding rapidly [1]
Few studies have dealt with the Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) community in urban linden trees [22, 36,37,38]
Summary
City managers are obliged to ensure sustainability and environmental benefits for city dwellers, so they introduce trees as a valuable component of an urban ecosystem [2]. Paradoxically, they grow in often extremely distorted habitat conditions in comparison to natural conditions. Street trees are exposed to a relatively high stress level. Studies reveal that their average lifespan is shorter than that of park trees [3], with mean ranging from 19 to 28 years [4] or less. Park trees are expected to grow in average 160 years
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