Fungal Succession Research Articles

Fungal community determines soil multifunctionality during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoir

Microorganisms are pivotal in sustaining soil functions, yet the specific contributions of bacterial and fungal succession on the functions during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoirs remains elusive. Here, we explored bacterial and fungal succession and their impacts on soil multifunctionality along a ∼50-year vegetation restoration chronosequence in China’s largest vanadium titano-magnetite tailing reservoir. We found a significant increase in soil multifunctionality, an index comprising factors pertinent to soil fertility and microbially mediated nutrient cycling, along the chronosequence. Despite increasing heavy metal levels, both bacterial and fungal communities exhibited significant increase in richness and network complexity over time. However, fungi demonstrated a slower succession rate and more consistent composition than bacteria, indicating their relatively higher resilience to environmental changes. Soil multifunctionality was intimately linked to bacterial and fungal richness or complexity. Nevertheless, when scrutinizing both richness and complexity concurrently, the correlations disappeared for bacteria but remained robust for fungi. This persistence reveals the critical role of the fungal community resilience in sustaining soil multifunctionality, particularly through their stable interactions with powerful core taxa. Our findings highlight the importance of fungal succession in enhancing soil multifunctionality during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoirs, and manipulating fungal community may expedite ecological recovery of areas polluted with heavy metals.

Lipidomics reveals quality deterioration and fungal succession of rice under different humidity and brown rice rates

Stored rice susceptible to environmental influences may induce quality deterioration. To clarify the optimal storage condition for rice, the quality indicators including microbial counts and fatty acid values (FAVs) under different relative humidity (RH) and brown rice (BR) rates were monitored, and lipid composition and fungal community of three freshness rice were explored by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. The results showed the fastest increase of microbial counts and FAVs at 80% RH and 8% BR, indicating the better rice quality stored at 60% RH and with a BR rate of less than 2%. During storage, Aspergillus significantly increased by 99.0%, while Alternaria decreased by 99.5%. Moreover, 927 lipid species belonging to 6 classes and 50 subclasses were identified, including glycerolipids (GLs, 40.45%), sphingolipids (SPs, 22.22%), and glycerophospholipids (GPs, 14.46%). The major differentially abundant metabolites (DAM), including SHexCer, PE-Cer, PMEOH, and SMGDG, can be identified as key markers in rice deterioration. Notably, glycerophospholipid metabolism and glycerolipid metabolism were the main pathways for poor-quality rice in contrast with sphingolipid metabolism for mild-quality rice. Additionally, the degradation of GLs, SPs, and GPs significantly correlated with the changes of Aspergillus, Wallemia, Fusarium during rice deterioration.

Effects of experimental canopy openness on wood-inhabiting fungal fruiting diversity across succession

While the succession of terrestrial plant communities is well studied, less is known about succession on dead wood, especially how it is affected by environmental factors. While temperate forests face increasing canopy mortality, which causes considerable changes in microclimates, it remains unclear how canopy openness affects fungal succession. Here, we used a large real-world experiment to study the effect of closed and opened canopy on treatment-based alpha and beta fungal fruiting diversity. We found increasing diversity in early and decreasing diversity at later stages of succession under both canopies, with a stronger decrease under open canopies. However, the slopes of the diversity versus time relationships did not differ significantly between canopy treatments. The community dissimilarity remained mainly stable between canopies at ca. 25% of species exclusively associated with either canopy treatment. Species exclusive in either canopy treatment showed very low number of occupied objects compared to species occurring in both treatments. Our study showed that canopy loss subtly affected fungal fruiting succession on dead wood, suggesting that most species in the local species pool are specialized or can tolerate variable conditions. Our study indicates that the fruiting of the fungal community on dead wood is resilient against the predicted increase in canopy loss in temperate forests.

Disease Occurrence and Climatic Factors Jointly Structure Pomelo Leaf Fungal Succession in Disturbed Agricultural Ecosystem.

For perennial plants, newly emerged organs are fresh hot spots for environmental microbes to occupy and assemble to form mature microbial communities. In the microbial community, some commensal fungi can play important roles in microbial succession, thus significantly improving host plant growth and disease resistance. However, their participating patterns in microbial assembly and succession remain largely unknown. In this study, we profiled the fungal community and found a similar fungal succession pattern of spring-emerged leaves from March to October in two pomelo orchards. Specifically, the fungal species, tracked on the old leaves, dominated the spring leaves after emergence and then decreased in relative abundance. This reduction in priority effects on the spring leaves was then followed by an increase in the number of observed species, Shannon and phylogenetic diversity indices, and the pathogen-associated fungal groups. In addition, we found that the temporal fungal succession on the spring leaves highly correlated with the disease occurrence in the orchards and with the temperature and precipitation variation from spring to summer. Of the pathogen-associated fungal groups, an increase in the relative abundance of Mycosphaerellaceae, hosting the causal agent of citrus greasy spot, correlated with the occurrence of the disease, while the relative abundance of Diaporthaceae, hosting the causal agent of melanose, was extremely low during the fungal succession. These results confirm that the two kinds of pathogen-associated fungal groups share different lifestyles on citrus, and also suggest that the study of temporal fungal succession in microbial communities can add to our understanding of the epidemiology of potential plant pathogens.

Soil, Plant, and Microorganism Interactions Drive Secondary Succession in Alpine Grassland Restoration.

Plant secondary succession has been explored extensively in restoring degraded grasslands in semiarid or dry environments. However, the dynamics of soil microbial communities and their interactions with plant succession following restoration efforts remain understudied, particularly in alpine ecosystems. This study investigates the interplay between soil properties, plant communities, and microbial populations across a chronosequence of grassland restoration on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. We examined five succession stages representing artificial grasslands of varying recovery durations from 0 to 19. We characterized soil microbial compositions using high-throughput sequencing, enzymatic activity assessments, and biomass analyses. Our findings reveal distinct plant and microbial secondary succession patterns, marked by increased soil organic carbon, total phosphorus, and NH4+-N contents. Soil microbial biomass, enzymatic activities, and microbial community diversity increased as recovery time progressed, attributed to increased plant aboveground biomass, cover, and diversity. The observed patterns in biomass and diversity dynamics of plant, bacterial, and fungal communities suggest parallel plant and fungal succession occurrences. Indicators of bacterial and fungal communities, including biomass, enzymatic activities, and community composition, exhibited sensitivity to variations in plant biomass and diversity. Fungal succession, in particular, exhibited susceptibility to changes in the soil C: N ratio. Our results underscore the significant roles of plant biomass, cover, and diversity in shaping microbial community composition attributed to vegetation-induced alterations in soil nutrients and soil microclimates. This study contributes valuable insights into the intricate relationships driving secondary succession in alpine grassland restoration.

Impact of storage time on non-volatile metabolites and fungal communities in Liupao tea using LC-MS based non-targeted metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing

Long-term storage of Liupao tea (LPT) is usually believed to enhance its quality and commercial value. The non-volatile metabolites variations and the fungal succession play a key role for organoleptic qualities during the storage procedure. To gain in-depth understanding the impact of storage time on the quality of LPT, two different brands of LPT with different storage time, including Maosheng LPTs (MS) with 0, 5, 10 and 15 years and Tianyu LPTs (TY) with 0, 3, 5, 8 and 10 years, were resorted to investigate the changes of non-volatile metabolites and fungi as well as their correlation by multi-omics. A total of 154 and 119 differential metabolites were identified in these two different brands of MS and TY, respectively, with the aid of high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In both categories of LPTs, the transformation of differential metabolites in the various stages referred to the formation of alkaloids, increase of organic acids, biosynthesis of terpenoids as well as glycosylation and methylation of flavonoids. Thereinto, glycosylation and methylation of flavonoids were the critical stages for distinguishing MS and TY, which were discovered in MS and TY stored for about 10 and 8 years, respectively. Moreover, the results of high-throughput sequencing showed that the key fungal genera in the storage of LPTs consisted of Eurotium, Aspergillus, Blastobotrys, Talaromyces, Thermomyces and Trichomonascus. It was confirmed on the basis of multivariate analysis that the specific fungal genera promoted the transformation of metabolites, affecting the tea quality to some extent. Therefore, this study provided a theoretical basis for the process optimization of LPT storage.

Metagenomics reveals the underestimated role of bacteria in the decomposition of downed logs in forest ecosystems

Downed logs are important structural and functional elements in the material flow of global forest ecosystems. They provide a rich natural substrate resource for microorganisms; however, current laboratory-based methods cannot fully elucidate the complex process of microbial decomposition of downed logs. Therefore, our study investigated the microbial community structure, succession patterns, and underlying environmental factors controlling the decomposition of Pinus tabulaeformis and Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata downed logs at different stages of decomposition in Chinese forest ecosystems. The genomes of the microorganisms present on the logs during different stages were therefore sequenced, and functional genes were annotated and analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes databases. We found that bacterial abundance was always higher than fungal abundance throughout the decomposition process, reflecting their strong competitive ability. Microbial community structure and function were similar in the early stage (I) and late stages (IV, V) of log decomposition, but those of the middle stages (II, III) differed. With the decomposition of downed logs of Q. aliena var. acuteserrata, there was a fungal succession pattern from Ascomycota to Basidiomycota to Mucoromycetes, but this trend did not occur for P. tabulaeformis. The density, moisture and elemental content of downed logs were the main factors affecting the microbial community. Finally, microbially mediated functions were mainly related to the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and various small molecule carbohydrate enzymes, cellulases, and chitinases in glycoside hydrolases; the taxa sources of the main functions were primarily Proteobacteria and Firmicutes bacteria, reflecting the functional importance of bacteria in the process of downed log decomposition. We conclude that bacteria always play an important role in the process of downed log decomposition and that their role may be far underestimated. Therefore, we believe that the next step should be to expand the study of downed log bacteria, to further clarify the ecological functions of the bacteria on downed logs in natural environments and their relationship with fungi, which may help shed light on the complex decomposition process of downed logs.

How do root fungi of Alnus nepalensis and Schima wallichii recover during succession of abandoned land?

Alnus nepalensis and Schima wallichii are native tree species accompanying succession in abandoned agricultural land in the middle mountainous region of central Nepal. To understand how root fungi recover during spontaneous succession, we analyzed the diversity and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), ectomycorrhizal (ECM), and total fungi in tree fine roots from three land use types, short-term abandoned land (SA), long-term abandoned land (LA), and regenerated forest (RF) as a reference. Additionally, ECM morphotypes were examined. The results showed different speeds of succession in the studied fungal groups. While the change in the AM fungal community appears to be rapid and LA resembles the composition of RF, the total fungi in the abandoned land types are similar to each other but differed significantly from RF. Interestingly, the relative abundance of Archaeosporaceae followed a trend differing between the tree species (SA < LA in A. nepalensis, but SA > LA in S. wallichii). Unlike AM and total fungi, there was no significant difference in the ECM community of A. nepalensis between land use types, probably due to their low species diversity (9 ECM morphotypes, 31 ECM operational taxonomic units). However, Cortinarius sp. was significantly more abundant in RF than in the other land use types, whereas Alnicola, Tomentella, and Russula preferred young stages. Our results suggest that for both studied tree species the AM fungal succession could reach the stage of regenerated forest relatively fast. In the case of total fungi, because of hyperdiversity and composed of species specialized to a variety of environments and substrates, the transition was expected to be delayed in abandoned land where the vegetation was still developing and the ecosystem was not as complex as that found in mature forests.

Assessment of Fungal Succession in Decomposing Swine Carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) Using DNA Metabarcoding.

The decomposition of animal bodies is a process defined by specific stages, described by the state of the body and participation of certain guilds of invertebrates and microorganisms. While the participation of invertebrates in decomposing is well-studied and actively used in crime scene investigations, information on bacteria and fungi from the scene is rarely collected or used in the identification of important factors such as estimated time of death. Modern molecular techniques such as DNA metabarcoding allow the identification and quantification of the composition of microbial communities. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to monitor fungal succession during the decomposition of juvenile pigs in grasslands of New Jersey, USA. Our findings show that decomposition stages differ in a diversity of fungal communities. In particular, we noted increased fungal species richness in the more advanced stages of decomposition (e.g., bloat and decay stages), with unique fungal taxa becoming active with the progression of decay. Overall, our findings improve knowledge of how fungi contribute to forensically relevant decomposition and could help with the assessment of crime scenes.

Fungal succession in decomposing ash leaves colonized by the ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus or its harmless relative Hymenoscyphus albidus.

The ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, originating from Asia, is currently threatening common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in Europe, massive ascospore production from the saprotrophic phase being a key determinant of its invasiveness. To consider whether fungal diversity and succession in decomposing leaf litter are affected by this invader, we used ITS-1 metabarcoding to profile changes in fungal community composition during overwintering. The subjected ash leaf petioles, collected from a diseased forest and a healthy ash stand hosting the harmless ash endophyte Hymenoscyphus albidus, were incubated in the forest floor of the diseased stand between October 2017 and June 2018 and harvested at 2-3-month intervals. Total fungal DNA level showed a 3-fold increase during overwintering as estimated by FungiQuant qPCR. Petioles from the healthy site showed pronounced changes during overwintering; ascomycetes of the class Dothideomycetes were predominant after leaf shed, but the basidiomycete genus Mycena (class Agaricomycetes) became predominant by April, whereas H. albidus showed low prevalence. Petioles from the diseased site showed little change during overwintering; H. fraxineus was predominant, while Mycena spp. showed increased read proportion by June. The low species richness and evenness in petioles from the diseased site in comparison to petioles from the healthy site were obviously related to tremendous infection pressure of H. fraxineus in diseased forests. Changes in leaf litter quality, owing to accumulation of host defense phenolics in the pathogen challenged leaves, and strong saprophytic competence of H. fraxineus are other factors that probably influence fungal succession. For additional comparison, we examined fungal community structure in petioles collected in the healthy stand in August 2013 and showing H. albidus ascomata. This species was similarly predominant in these petioles as H. fraxineus was in petioles from the diseased site, suggesting that both fungi have similar suppressive effects on fungal richness in petiole/rachis segments they have secured for completion of their life cycle. However, the ability of H. fraxineus to secure the entire leaf nerve system in diseased forests, in opposite to H. albidus, impacts the general diversity and successional trajectory of fungi in decomposing ash petioles.

Analysis of Fungal Diversity of Three Samples (dqjq_ck, dqjqcp and dqjp3) from Danquan Distillery

There are fungal communities in fermented grains and high-temperature Daqu of Danquan Baijiu, which had an important effect on Baijiu production. As a saccharifying and fermenting material, to a great extent, Daqu determines Baijiu flavour. However, in high-temperature Daqu “dqjq_ck” and “dqjqcp” (after fermentation for 45 d, 135 d) and fermented grains dqjp3 originated from Danquan distillery, fungal communities remain unclear. Therefore, this study analyzed fungal communities by high-throughput sequencing. Their fungal communities mainly included Ascomycota at phylum level. The most abundant fungal genera were Aspergillus, Issatchenkia and Zygosaccharomyces in dqjq_ck, dqjqcp, dqjp3, respectively. The dominant genera included Aspergillus (96.21%), Thermomyces (2.13%) in dqjq_ck. The dominant genera contained Issatchenkia (48.29%), Millerozyma (14.53%), Thermoascus (12.17%), Aspergillus (8.80%), Hyphopichia (3.28%), Rhizomucor (3.17%), Lichtheimia (2.62%), Thermomyces (2.27%), Monascus (1.37%) in dqjqcp. The dominant genera had Zygosaccharomyces (68.48%), Monascus (15.18%), Aspergillus (6.97%), Cladosporium (1.12%) in dqjp3. The main fungi included Aspergillus, Zygosaccharomyces, Issatchenkia, Monascus, Millerozyma, Thermoascus, Thermomyces, Hyphopichia, Rhizomucor, Lichtheimia and Cladosporium in three samples. The fungal succession of three samples were revealed in three key stages of Danquan Baijiu production. This paper will lay the basis for screening outstanding fungi to enhance Danquan Baijiu quality in near future.

Nitrogen addition enhanced Per-fluoroalkyl substances’ microbial availability in a wheat soil ecosystem

Per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely detected in farmland soils and are understood to pose toxicological threats to soil microbiomes and crop safety. Meanwhile, farmland ecosystems have experienced increasing nitrogen loading caused by soil fertilization. Yet it is still unclear how nitrogen additions affect soil's microbial responses to PFASs. In this study, using a laboratory-based ecological experiment, we assessed the microbial availability of PFASs in soils receiving ammonium, nitrate, and urea nitrogen amendments by quantifying the translocation factors of PFASs from soil particle to soil extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Our results showed that nitrogen, specifically ammonium, significantly increased the PFASs' microbial availability (p < 0.05). Second, nitrogen fertilization in PFASs-polluted soils decreased the microbial community diversity and stability at the structural, species, and functional levels (p < 0.05). For soil microbial activities, nitrogen enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) while it inhibited the catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) (p < 0.01). Congruently, PFASs, as well as the nitrate and nitrite nitrogen, were shown to be the predominant abiotic drivers regulating the soil fungal succession (p < 0.05), while bacteria were mostly regulated by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (p < 0.01). Furthermore, we revealed that the nitrogen cycling gene hmp (dominates the transformation from NO to NO3−) was the hub gene integrating the microbially available PFASs and the soil nitrogen cycling processes (p < 0.01), indicating that hmp could be the core regulator affecting the accumulation of PFASs in soil EPS. Our study highlighted that decreasing ammonia's amendments could mitigate China's national initiatives to reduce nitrogen fertilization in farmlands, reduce the PFASs' availability to the soil microbiome, and protect the microbial community stability in soil.

Phosphorus functional microorganisms and genes: A novel perspective to ascertain phosphorus redistribution and bioavailability during copper and tetracycline-stressed composting

There is limited information on the phosphorus availability under copper and tetracycline-amended composting: Insights into microbial communities and genes. Thus, this work investigated the phosphorus redistribution and transformation, illustrated the variation in microbial communities and genes, and ascertained the multiple action-patterns among which within copper and tetracycline-amended composting. Phosphorus bioavailability reduced by 8.96 % ∼ 13.10 % due to the conservation of Ex-P to Ca-P. Copper and tetracycline showed a significant effect on fungal succession, but not to bacteria, as well as inhibited the phosphorus functional genes in fungal communities, while accelerated it in bacterial communities. Under the copper/tetracycline-stressed conditions, bacterial Firmicutes could promote the mineralization of organic phosphorus, and bacterial Proteobacteria might facilitate the dissolution of inorganic phosphorus. These findings could provide theoretical guidance for the further research on phosphorus bioavailability ascribed to microbial communities and genes.

Occurrence of filamentous fungi in yerba mate discarded in the environment

Yerba mate, Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. (Aquifoliaceae), waste is one of the most common byproducts generated in households in southern Brazil due to the traditional consumption of mate. However, the decomposition of this waste by fungi has not been thoroughly evaluated. In order to study the fungal succession in mate residue, 450 samples were evaluated during the autumn, winter, and spring, and kept for two months in a humid chamber (aerobic medium) for the growth of associated filamentous fungi. We morphologically identified the fungi by means of a microscopy device and taking into consideration only the surface-developed mycelia. Twenty-two genera of filamentous fungi were found, of which the Zygomycota (Rhizopus spp. and Mucor spp.) microflora deserve special attention since they were the only fungi growing in the first 19 days. After this period, the fungi Deuteromycota (mainly Aspergillus spp.) and Oomycota (Pythium spp.) develop more vigorously, supplanting the previous ones. The species of Curvularia, Fusarium, Verticillium, and Pythium are phytopathogens and end up having their inoculum source increased with the irregular disposal of this residue in nature. The presence of numerous fungal genera, which are known to be pathogenic according to the literature, highlights the importance of implementing proper waste disposal practices in the environment. Improper disposal of the yerba mate waste can result in contamination not only of yerba mate itself but also of other commercial crops. Therefore, it is imperative that greater attention be paid to the disposal of this waste.

Composition and function of viruses in sauce-flavor baijiu fermentation

Viruses are highly abundant in nature, associated with quality and safety of traditional fermented foods. However, the overall viral diversity and function are still poorly understood in food microbiome. Traditional baijiu fermentation is an ideal model system to examine the diversity and function of viruses owing to easy access, stable operation, and domesticated microbial community. Equipped with cutting-edge viral metagenomics, we investigated the viral community in the fermented grain and fermentation environment, as well as their contribution to baijiu fermentation. Viral communities in the fermented grains and fermentation environment are highly similar. The dominant viruses were bacteriophages, mainly including the order Caudovirales and the family Inoviridae. Furtherly, association network analysis showed that viruses and bacteria were significantly negatively correlated (P < 0.01). Viral diversity could significantly influence bacterial and fungal succession (P < 0.05). Moreover, we proved that starter phages could significantly inhibit the growth of Bacillus licheniformis in the logarithmic growth stage (P < 0.05) under culture condition. Based on the functional annotations, viruses and bacteria both showed high distribution of genes related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, abundant auxiliary carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes were also identified in viruses, indicating that viruses were involved in the decomposition of complex polysaccharides during fermentation. Our results revealed that viruses could crucially affect microbial community and metabolism during traditional fermentation.

Co-invading ectomycorrhizal fungal succession in pine-invaded mountain grasslands

Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal communities that associate with invading pines ( Pinus spp.) are expected to be poor in species diversity. However, long-term successional trajectories and the persistence of dispersal limitations of EM fungi in the exotic range are not well understood. We sampled the roots and surrounding soil of Pinus elliottii and P. taeda trees invading mountain grasslands of Argentina. We also sampled the EM fungal spore bank in grassland soil near (∼150 m) and far (∼850 m) from the original pine plantations. We found 86 different co-invasive EM fungal OTUs. Differential dispersal capacities among EM fungi were detected in the spore bank of grassland soil, but not under mature pines. After thirty years of invasion, the age, but not the degree of spatial isolation of pine individuals affected the EM fungal composition. We showed how EM fungal succession occurs during pine invasions, which may have clear consequences for ecosystem functioning of co-invaded sites. • Pines often rely on co-introduced ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi to invade native ecosystems. • EM fungal succession and persistence of dispersal limitations are poorly understood. • We found that invading pines can host a highly diverse EM fungal community. • The age but not the spatial isolation of pines affected EM fungal composition. • Dispersal limitations of EM fungi are only relevant during early pine invasion.

Microbiome of rehydrated corn and sorghum grain silages treated with microbial inoculants in different fermentation periods

Due to the co-evolved intricate relationships and mutual influence between changes in the microbiome and silage fermentation quality, we explored the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici (Inoc1) or Lactobacillus buchneri (Inoc2) inoculants on the diversity and bacterial and fungal community succession of rehydrated corn (CG) and sorghum (SG) grains and their silages using Illumina Miseq sequencing after 0, 3, 7, 21, 90, and 360 days of fermentation. The effects of inoculants on bacterial and fungal succession differed among the grains. Lactobacillus and Weissella species were the main bacteria involved in the fermentation of rehydrated corn and sorghum grain silage. Aspergillus spp. mold was predominant in rehydrated CG fermentation, while the yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus was the major fungus in rehydrated SG silages. The Inoc1 was more efficient than CTRL and Inoc2 in promoting the sharp growth of Lactobacillus spp. and maintaining the stability of the bacterial community during long periods of storage in both grain silages. However, the bacterial and fungal communities of rehydrated corn and sorghum grain silages did not remain stable after 360 days of storage.

Strict substrate requirements alongside rapid substrate turnover may indicate an early colonization: A case study of Pleurotus calyptratus (Agaricales, Basidiomycota)

Pleurotus calyptratus is a wood-inhabiting oyster mushroom associated with Populus tremula and P. alba . This fungus is rather common in Ukraine, but considered rare in many other European countries. Aiming to find causes for variation in rarity, we conducted habitat mapping and repeated surveys to understand the substrate requirements and fruiting dynamics of P. calyptratus . We showed that fruiting is strictly associated with older trees and early decay stages, and not with physical properties of a tree trunk like volume or position. This timespan of substrate suitability lasts for 1–3 y, determining rapid substrate turnover. We also detected DNA of P. calyptratus in living tissues of visually healthy trees, meaning its latent presence in the hosts, which places the fungus in a position to be a pioneer in a fungal succession. Despite the high spatial and temporal variation in fruiting, five annual surveys demonstrated no significant trends in P. calyptratus population's dynamics, and supported the assumption of random variation in fruiting, driven mostly by dynamics of forest stands. Therefore, we hypothesize that P. calyptratus ' relative abundance in Ukraine is explained by continuous substrate supply from large homogenous aspen stands that are rare in the rest of Europe due to intensive management. • Pleurotus calyptratus shows yet unexplained differences in rarity across Europe. • Repeated fruit body surveys were applied to explore species population dynamics. • Latent development of P. calyptratus in young living trees has been proven. • P. calyptratus combines both strict requirements and rapid turnover of substrates. • Such fruiting pattern can indicate an early colonization strategy for agarics.

Fungal succession on the decomposition of three plant species from a Brazilian mangrove

Leaf decomposition is the primary process in release of nutrients in the dynamic mangrove habitat, supporting the ecosystem food webs. On most environments, fungi are an essential part of this process. However, due to the peculiarities of mangrove forests, this group is currently neglected. Thus, this study tests the hypothesis that fungal communities display a specific succession pattern in different mangrove species and this due to differences in their ecological role. A molecular approach was employed to investigate the dynamics of the fungal community during the decomposition of three common plant species (Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, and Avicennia schaueriana) from a mangrove habitat located at the southeast of Brazil. Plant material was the primary driver of fungi communities, but time also was marginally significant for the process, and evident changes in the fungal community during the decomposition process were observed. The five most abundant classes common to all the three plant species were Saccharomycetes, Sordariomycetes, Tremellomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Dothideomycetes, all belonging to the Phylum Ascomycota. Microbotryomycetes class were shared only by A. schaueriana and L. racemosa, while Agaricomycetes class were shared by L. racemosa and R. mangle. The class Glomeromycetes were shared by A. schaueriana and R. mangle. The analysis of the core microbiome showed that Saccharomycetes was the most abundant class. In the variable community, Sordariomycetes was the most abundant one, mainly in the Laguncularia racemosa plant. The results presented in this work shows a specialization of the fungal community regarding plant material during litter decomposition which might be related to the different chemical composition and rate of degradation.

The photo-redox of chromium regulated by microplastics (MPs) and MPs-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs-DOM) and the CO2 emission of MPs-DOM

Microplastics (MPs) and chromium (Cr) are common pollutants in wastewater treatment plants, where ultraviolet disinfection processes may degrade MPs and photooxidize Cr(III) into more hazardous Cr(VI). In this study, the effects of MPs on the phototransformation of coexisting Cr, as well as the role and ecological effects of MPs-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs-DOM), were investigated. The photooxidation of MPs and Cr(III) was radical-driven reaction. The addition of MPs inhibited the photooxidation of Cr(III) and induced the photoreduction of Cr(VI) through surface adsorption. Both MPs and MPs-DOM generated comparable ROS at different irradiation moments, which can affect the photodegradation of MPs and MPs-DOM, as well as the phototransformation of Cr. The 56-day incubation showed a higher mineralization ratio of MPs-DOMs than riverine humic acid, indicating the vital contribution of MPs-DOMs to carbon emissions. In general, MPs-DOM lowered microbial abundance and diversity compared to the original inoculum. Bacterial and fungal succession was affected by both MPs-DOM and the original inoculum, with polyvinyl chloride-derived DOM possessing a stronger filtration impact on microbial communities than the other three MPs-DOMs. In this study, a win–win solution for Cr(VI) reduction and MPs treatment through photoirradiation was proposed, and the potential significant role of MPs-DOM in the transformation of coexisting contaminants, the carbon cycle, and microbial succession was highlighted.