Putative Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Research Articles

Co-invasion of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the Brazilian Pampa biome

The introduction of ectomycorrhizal fungi along with the introduced ectomycorrhizal plants is rarely considered at the ecosystem level. In Brazil, the Pampa biome is the dominant ecosystem in the Rio Grande do Sul State, predominantly with pastoral management but intensively planted with non-native trees over the last century. Sporocarps of ectomycorrhizal and putative ectomycorrhizal fungi were collected in Pampa biome native forest vegetation and plantation forests during the period 2009–2013, with an emphasis on plantations of eucalypts and pines. Morphological analysis and molecular markers were used to identify collected sporocarps. A total of 60 different taxa were collected, mainly fitting into Australasian ectomycorrhizal fungi lineages. Among collections, two turned out to be saprotrophic species from Amanita belonging to the subsect. Vittadiniae. The ectomycorrhizal fungi reported here showed that some co-introduced lineages are frequent co-invaders in the Brazilian Pampa biome with alien ectomycorrhizal trees, especially /descolea, /hysterangium, /laccaria, /pisolithus-scleroderma lineages. No ectomycorrhizal sporocarps were found in either plantation forest or in native forest sites and no novel associations were observed between native ectomycorrhizal fungal species and introduced plants. All ectomycorrhizal fungi co-introduced in the Brazilian Pampa were recorded with plant species of Australian or North American origin. The study has raised additional questions regarding the distribution, ecology and taxonomy of fungi from the Brazilian Pampa biome.

Early rhizosphere microbiome composition is related to the growth and Zn uptake of willows introduced to a former landfill.

Although plants introduced for site restoration are pre-selected for specific traits (e.g. trace element bioaccumulation, rapid growth in poor soils), the in situ success of these plants likely depends on the recruitment of appropriate rhizosphere microorganisms from their new environment. We introduced three willow (Salix spp.) cultivars to a contaminated landfill, and performed soil chemical analyses, plant measurements, and Ion Torrent sequencing of rhizospheric fungal and bacterial communities at 4 and 16 months post-planting. The abundance of certain dominant fungi was linked to willow accumulation of Zn, the most abundant trace element at the site. Interestingly, total Zn accumulation was better explained by fungal community structure 4 months post-planting than 16 months post-planting, suggesting that initial microbial recruitment may be critical. In addition, when the putative ectomycorrhizal fungi Sphaerosporella brunnea and Inocybe sp. dominated the rhizosphere 4 months post-planting, Zn accumulation efficiency was negatively correlated with fungal diversity. Although field studies such as this rely on correlation, these results suggest that the soil microbiome may have the greatest impact on plant function during the early stages of growth, and that plant-fungus specificity may be essential.

Piracy in the high trees: ectomycorrhizal fungi from an aerial ‘canopy soil’ microhabitat

The mantle of dead organic material (“canopy soil”) associated with the mats of vascular and nonvascular epiphytes found on the branches of trees in the temperate rainforests along the southwestern coast of the South Island of New Zealand were examined for evidence of ectomycorrhizal fungi. DNA sequencing and cluster analysis were used to identify the taxa of fungi present in 74 root tips collected from the canopy soil microhabitat of three old growth Nothofagus menziesii trees in the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. A diverse assemblage of ectomycorrhizal fungi was found to infect an extensive network of adventitious canopy roots of Nothofagus menziesii in this forest, including 14 phylotypes from nine genera of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi. Seven of the genera identified previously were known to form ectomycorrhizas with terrestrial roots of Nothofagus: Cortinarius, Russula, Cenococcum, Thelephora/Tomentella, Lactarius and Laccaria; two, Clavulina and Leotia, previously have not been reported forming ectomycorrhizas with Nothofagus. Canopy ectomycorrhizas provide an unexpected means for increased host nutrition that may have functional significance in some forest ecosystems. Presumably, canopy ectomycorrhizas on host adventitious roots circumvent the tree-ground-soil nutrient cycle by accessing a wider range of nutrients directly in the canopy than would be possible for non-mycorrhizal or arbuscular mycorrhizal canopy roots. In this system, both host and epiphytes would seem to be in competition for the same pool of nutrients in canopy soil.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi from southern Brazil – a literature-based review, their origin and potential hosts

A first list of ectomycorrhizal and putative ectomycorrhizal fungi from southern Brazil (the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana), their potential hosts and origin is presented. The list is based on literature and authors observations. Ectomycorrhizal status and putative origin of listed species was assessed based on worldwide published data and, for some genera, deduced from taxonomic position of otherwise locally distributed species. A total of 144 species (including 18 doubtfull species) in 49 genera were recorded for this region, all accompanied with a brief distribution, habitat and substrate data. At least 30 collections were published only to the genus level and require further taxonomic review.

Diversity of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Associated withEucalyptusin Africa and Madagascar

Use of the Australian genusEucalyptusin short rotation plantations in Africa and Madagascar has developed over the last century to such an extent that it is becoming the most frequently planted genus in Africa. In order to find ecologically well-adapted eucalypts, foresters have tested different species of various origins and the number of testedEucalyptusspecies now exceeds 150 in Africa. Due to the ability of eucalypts to naturally form ectomycorrhizae, even in the absence of any controlled introduction of compatible ectomycorrhizal fungal partners, their introduction in new ecosystems has direct consequences for ectomycorrhizal fungus communities. A bibliographical compilation, together with original field observations on putative ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with eucalypts in Africa and in Madagascar, has been drawn up in two lists: one for Africa and one for Madagascar where surprisingly high fungal diversity was observed. The level of diversity, the putative origin of the fungi, and their potential impact on native ectomycorrhizal fungi are discussed. The development of eucalypts plantations will inexorably lead to the increase of exotic fungal species being potentially invasive in the considered region.

Identification of genes for lignin peroxidases and manganese peroxidases in ectomycorrhizal fungi.

• Genes for ligninolytic enzymes, normally associated with white-rot fungi, are shown to be widespread in a broad taxonomic range of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. • ECM fungi were screened for lignin peroxidase (LiP) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) genes by PCR using primers specific for known isozymes in the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, with DNA sequencing used to confirm the identity of the amplified fragments. • Genes for LiPs were detected in ECM fungi representing the orders Agaricales, Aphyllophorales, Boletales, Cantharellales, Hymenochaetales, Sclerodermatales, Stereales and Thelephorales. MnP genes were detected in only Cortinarius rotundisporus and three ECM Stereales taxa. • The presence of genes for decomposer activities supports putative evolutionary relationships between ECM and saprotrophic fungi. Expression of the lignolytic genes may facilitate ECM fungal access to nutrients associated with dead plant material in soil and potentially a supplementary carbon supply. Strict functional boundaries between ECM and decomposer fungi may be less clear-cut than previously thought.

New and Interesting Ectomycorrhizal Fungi from Puerto Rico, Mona, and Guana Islands

A report of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi from Puerto Rico, Mona, and Guana Island in the Greater Antilles includes four species of Amanita, three of which are new species; two Lactarius, one is new, and two species of Boletus, one new. In addition, new distribution records of Phlebopus beniensis, Rus - sula littoralis, Lactarius ferrugineus, a new small spored Phylloporus, and Suillus brevipes with Pinus caribaea are reported. Ectomycorrhizal hosts for all but the Suillus include Coccoloba uvifera (Polygona-

New and interesting ectomycorrhizal fungi from Puerto Rico, Mona, and Guana Islands

A report of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi from Puerto Rico, Mona, and Guana Island in the Greater Antilles includes four species of Amanita, three of which are new species; two Lactarius, one is new, and two species of Boletus, one new. In addition, new distribution records of Phlebopus beniensis, Russula littoralis, Lactarius ferrugineus, a new small spored Phylloporus, and Suillus brevipes with Pinus caribaea are reported. Ectomycorrhizal hosts for all but the Suillus include Coccoloba uvifera (Polygonaceae) and putative hosts Hymenea courbaril (Caesalpiniaceae) and Andira inermis (Papilionaceae).

Ectomycorrhizas in Eucalyptus tetrodonta and E. miniata Forest Communities in Tropical Northern Australia and their Role in the Rehabilitation of these Forests Following Mining

The importance of ectomycorrhizas in Eucalyptus tetrodonta F.Muell. and E. miniata Cunn. ex Schauer dominated forests and woodland communities in the monsoonal tropics of northern Australia was assessed. Ectomycorrhizas colonised between 24 and 54% of final order lateral roots in soil cores collected at 16 native forest sites. Only a minority of the plant species present formed ectomycorrhizas (mainly eucalypts and acacias) but these species contributed more than 75% of the basal area. More than 70 species of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi were collected, with three hypogeous taxa (Nothocastoreum, Hysterangium and an undescribed Boletaceae) most frequently encountered. Glasshouse inoculation experiments confirmed that a diverse range of fungi was capable of forming ectomycorrhizas with E. tetrodonta and E. miniata seedlings, and that the growth of both species could be substantially increased by inoculation with specific fungi. The fungi most effective in increasing seedling growth were generally those which most extensively colonised the seedling roots. A second component of this study investigated the requirements for ectomycorrhizal fungi in native forest rehabilitation following mining. Ectomycorrhizal infectivity was low in disturbed soils and mine spoil materials, with the intensity of disturbance and the presence of regrowth vegetation key determinants of the level of infectivity. Inoculation of seedlings of E. miniata with spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi increased both growth and leaf phosphorus concentrations by between two- and three-fold at 7 months after planting out on a waste rock dump devoid of native ectomycorrhizal propagules. The application of these findings to minesite rehabilitation in the region, and the feasibility of using spores for broad-scale inoculation, are discussed.

Comparison of three methods for extraction of spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi from mammal scats

A new density gradient method for the extraction of spores of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi from scats of Uromys caudimaculatus (white tailed rat) (Muridae) was compared to two commonly employed methods, sieving and maceration. The study demonstrated this new method to be superior both quantitatively and qualitatively to the sieving and maceration methods. All three extraction methods were effective in recovering a variety of morphologically different spores from the scat. All taxa found were recovered by all of the three methods. However, the sieving and maceration methods required 3 X and 5 X the number of grids counted, respectively, to recover the same number of taxa as the density gradient method. The methods also differed significantly in the number of spores recovered. The new density gradient method recovered an average of 3 X, and 13 X, the number of spores recovered by the sieving and maceration methods, respectively. It is suggested that this method is not only suitable for spore enumeration work, but is a nondestructive efficient technique for concentration of spores.

Mycorrhizal status of some fungi fruiting beneath indigenous trees in Burkina Faso

During the rainy season, putative ectomycorrhizal fungi were observed under three species of Caesalpinioideae Afzelia africana Sm., Isoberlinia doka Craib. and Stapf. and Isoberlinia dalziellii Craib. and Stapf., one species of Dipterocarpaceae Monotes kerstingii Gilg. and two species of Euphorbiaceae Uapaca guineensis Müll. Arg. and Uapaca somon Aub. and Lean. The fungi belong to the orders of Agaricales, Aphyllophorales, Boletales, Cantharellales, Gautieriales, Hymenogastrales, Russulales and Sclerodermatales. Some of these fungal species e.g. Lactarius gymnocarpus Heim., Cantharellus pseudofriesii Heinem., Scleroderma dictyosporum Pat., Scleroderma verrucosum Pers., Scleroderma sp2 and Russula sp1, are common to the tropical tree families known to form ectomycorrhizas. A few species of these fungi e.g. Amanita hemibapha (Berk. and Br.) Sacc., Inocybe sp1, Boletellus sp3, Lactarius sp2 and Xerocomus subspinulosus Heinem., are observed only under mycorrhizal trees belonging to the group of Caesalpinioideae legumes. However, seven fungal species Coltricia cinnamomea (Pers.) Murr., Boletellus sp5, Austrogautiera sp. (hypogeous), Lactarius sp1, Russula annulata Heim., Russula sp2 and Scleroderma sp1 seem more specific to the Uapaca species. In all, twenty-seven putative ectomycorrhizal fungi were recovered and only five fungal species were isolated from sporocarps and maintained in pure culture. Four Scleroderma species were confirmed as mycorrhizal fungi on A. africana, Isoberlinia spp. and two East African trees, Brachystegia speciformis Benth. and Afzelia quanzensis Welw. The two Uapaca species, B. speciformis and M. kerstingii possess both arbuscular mycorrhizas and ectomycorrhizas.

Ectomycorrhizas and putative ectomycorrhizal fungi of Shorea leprosula Miq. (Dipterocarpaceae)

The ectomycorrhizas of Shorea leprosula Miq. are described and their putative fungal associates discussed. Of the 24 ectomycorrhizal types reported from seedlings, wildlings and 20-year-old trees of Shorea leprosula, 20 were associated with the Basidiomycotina, two with the Ascomycotina and two with either members of the Ascomycotina or the Russulaceae. The dominant group of fungi associated with Shorea leprosula ectomycorrhizas were members of the Russulaceae. This was confirmed by collections of fungal fruiting bodies made under adult Shorea leprosula trees in various parts of Peninsular Malaysia over a period of 3 years. Of the 28 species of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi collected, 15 were members of the Russulaceae.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi of the Philippines: a preliminary survey and notes on the geographic biodiversity of the Sclerodermatales

Basidiomata of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi have been collected from under pine or dipterocarp stands in Central Luzon in the Philippines. Over 100 collections are reported. Among the material, 75 taxa have been recognised and assigned to known genera or at least placed close to already documented European, Japanese or North American taxa. Formal identifications for 46 species are given along with comments on previous collections from South-East Asia. Species collected from under the native Pinus kesiya resemble the communities found under three-needled pines in North America and the West Himalayas, whereas those from dipterocarp forests were similar to communities found in Malaysia and Japan. Members of the Sclerodermatales were particularly common and are probably the pioneer colonizers of young seedlings in these ecosystems.

Ectomycorrhizas and putative ecto‐mycorrhizal fungi of Afzelia africana Sm and Uapaca guineensis Müll. Arg. in southern Senegal

SummaryEctomycorrhizas and ectomycorrhizal fungi of Afzelia africana Sm. and Uapaca guineensis Müll. Arg. are reported in forests of southern Senegal. Ectomycorrhizas occurred in dry and wet conditions, at different soil contents of available phosphorus (0–17.5 μg g−1). U. guineensis was confined to groundwater forests. Individual trees had both ecto‐ and endomycorrhizas, A. africana grew scattered in semi‐evergreen and riverside forests, whereas in the woodland it formed larger patches and could dominate the canopy. Eighteen putative ectomycorrhizal fungi grew under U. guineensis and thirty‐one under A. africana. Only six species were common to both trees, indicating an ecological and/or taxonomical selection. The fungi belonged to the following Orders: Russulales (16), Boletales (11), Agaricales (9), Cantharellales (2), Selerodermatales (2), Hymenogastrales (1), Gautieriales (1), Aphyllophorales (11). Some of them had a wide Sudano‐Zamhezian or Guineo‐Congolian distribution and reached their northern limit in Senegal.