Distribution Of Fungi In Soil Research Articles

Insights into the profile of soil fungal diversity in Thailand

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.

Preferential associations of soil fungal taxa under mixed compositions of eastern American tree species.

Soil fungi are vital to forest ecosystem function, in part through their role mediating tree responses to environmental factors, as well as directly through effects on resource cycling. While the distribution of soil fungi can vary with abiotic factors, plant species identity is also known to affect community composition. However, the particular influence that a plant will have on its soil microbiota remains difficult to predict. Here, we paired amplicon sequencing and enzymatic assays to assess soil fungal composition and function under three tree species, Quercus rubra, Betula nigra, and Acer rubrum, planted individually and in all combinations in a greenhouse. We observed that fungal communities differed between each of the individual planted trees, suggesting at least some fungal taxa may associate preferentially with these tree species. Additionally, fungal community composition under mixed-tree plantings broadly differed from the individual planted trees, suggesting mixing of these distinct soil fungal communities. The data also suggest that there were larger enzymatic activities in the individual plantings as compared to all mixed-tree plantings which may be due to variations in fungal community composition. This study provides further evidence of the importance of tree identity on soil microbiota and functional changes to forest soils.

Species composition and distribution of soil fungi in the Kolsay Kolderi National Park.

Species composition and distribution of soil fungi in the Kolsay Kolderi National Park.

Delving into the dark ecology: A continent-wide assessment of patterns of composition in soil fungal communities from Australian tussock grasslands

Abstract Soil fungi play essential roles in many terrestrial processes, but our knowledge of the forces governing fungal distribution and community composition along broad-scale environmental gradients is still limited. In this study, we explored biogeographic distribution and composition of soil fungal communities associated with 62 tussock grasslands across different regions of Australia. Climatic parameters had only a limited correlation with fungal community structure, while edaphic variables and spatial distance were significantly associated with changes in fungal community composition. We also observed high variations in composition among fungal assemblages from different ecological regions, suggesting some regional endemism in these communities. The discrete distribution of fungi in soil was further confirmed by indicator analysis, which identified distinct indicator operational taxonomic units associated with grasslands from different climatic regions. Finally, fungi with flexible trophic interactions had a central role in the network architecture of both arid and temperate communities. Taken together, the results from our study confirm the prominent role of soil physico-chemical status and geographic location in determining fungal biogeographic patterns over large scales in Australia.

Diversity and distribution of soil fungal communities associated with biological soil crusts in the southeastern Tengger Desert (China) as revealed by 454 pyrosequencing

Abstract We assessed the diversity and distribution of soil fungal communities associated with biological soil crusts (BSCs) in the southeastern Tengger Desert (China) using 454 pyrosequencing. Soil fungal communities showed high diversity, with 63,427 reads belonging to 478 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Of these OTUs, 369 belonged to the Ascomycota, 73 to the Basidiomycota, 24 to the Chytridiomycota, one to the Glomeromycota, five to the Mortierellomycotina, and six to unassigned phyla. The most frequent genera were Phoma, Fusarium, Alternaria, Dendryphion, Peyronellaea, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Embellisia and Pleiochaeta. Different BSC sands (algae-crust sand, moss-crust sand and lichen-crust sand) did not harbor significantly different fungal communities. However, the fungal communities in these BSC sands were significantly different from those in non-crusted sands, with members of the Hypocreales and Fusarium being more frequent in the latter. The distribution of soil fungi (measured by Bray-Curtis distance) correlated with abiotic parameters, including total P (r2 = 0.9191, P = 0.001), organic C (r2 = 0.7237, P = 0.004), total N (r2 = 0.7200, P = 0.004), pH (r2 = 0.6858, P = 0.002) and electrical conductivity (r2 = 0.4723, P = 0.030). The results suggest that BSCs in the Tengger Desert harbor diverse fungal communities that are influenced by abiotic factors.

Vertical distribution and seasonal fluctuations of cellulolytic fungi in a typic calcixeroll soil in Greece

The mesophilic cellulolytic microfungal population in a Typic calcixeroll soil in Greece is analyzed, using the dilution plate method and Park's selection medium. Nineteen species and 9 genera were found. The vertical distribution of the fungi in the soil profile and seasonal fluctuations are discussed. The flora is compared with that observed in other soil types in Greece.

The Soil Fungi of Varanasi, India, in Relation to the Edaphic Factors

An attempt has been made to study the interrelationships of edaphic factors and distribution of soil fungi of Varanasi. Water holding capacity, moisture content, pH values, total organic carbon content, total nitrogen content and total water soluble salts of three different soils have been taken into account. Chemical analysis of soils has been carried out bimonthly and the distribution of fungi has been studied three times a month throughout the year. It has been found that moisture content and pH values of the soils have a pronounced effect on the distribution of fungi and the change in these values is accompanied by similar change in population of fungal species. Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus nigricans, R. arrhizus, Phycomyces sp. and Cunninghamella echinulata are dominant species isolated nearly throughout the year from all the plots. Eighty-seven different species of microfungi have been isolated and identified, twenty belonging to Phycomycetes, nine to Ascomycetes, fifty-six to Deuteromycetes and only two to Basidiomycetes. Pe3IoMe

The effect of carbon dioxide on the growth of certain soil fungi

Penicillium nigricans, Gliomastix convoluta and Zygorrhynchus vuillemini and several other soil fungi were grown in atmospheres containing various amounts of carbon dioxide. Growth was determined both by measuring the linear spread and the dry weight of the mycelium. Increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide beyond 5% greatly inhibited Penicillium nigricans , a fungus restricted to the upper 5 cm. of the soil, but had much less effect on Zygorrhynchus vuillemini , abundant below 10 cm. Gliomastix convoluta , which occurred throughout the profile, was intermediate in its reaction. The facultative anaerobic ability of fungi isolated from the lower layers of the soil has been stressed by previous writers. In view of the high concentration of CO 2 found in soil after rain (3·5–9·2 %), tolerance of CO 2 , rather than of low O 2 , may determine vertical distribution of soil fungi.

The Soil-Plate Method for Isolation of Fungi from Soil

RESEARCH on the ecological distribution of fungi in soil, in progress in this laboratory, has been facilitated by the use of a simple plating technique, whereby soil is distributed throughout a thin layer of nutrient medium. A soil plate is prepared by transferring a small amount of the soil to be examined into a sterilized Petri dish. 8–10 ml. of cooled medium is added and the soil particles dispersed throughout the agar. With sandy soils an adequate dispersal may be obtained by shaking and rotating the plate before the agar solidifies. If, however, the soil is very dry, or contains a high proportion of clay, it is preferable to mix the particles with a drop of sterile water in the plate, before the medium is added. The amount of soil used in the preparation of a soil plate varies with the soil investigated, and is determined by trial. With many natural surface soils about 0.005–0.015 gm. of soil has been found to give a convenient number of colonies on each plate. Czapek–Dox + 0.5 per cent yeast extract agar, acidified with phosphoric acid to pH 4.0, has been found a satisfactory medium for the growth and sporulation of many soil fungi and has been extensively used as an isolation medium. A microspatula made by flattening the end of a nichrome needle has been found useful for transferring soil and crushing soil aggregates.