1
|
Chaudhury R, Chakraborty A, Rahaman F, Sarkar T, Dey S, Das M. Mycorrhization in trees: ecology, physiology, emerging technologies and beyond. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2024; 26:145-156. [PMID: 38194349 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Mycorrhization has been an integral part of plants since colonization by the early land plants. Over decades, substantial research has highlighted its potential role in improving nutritional efficiency and growth, development and survival of crop plants. However, the focus of this review is trees. Evidence have been provided to explain ecological and physiological significance of mycorrhization in trees. Advances in recent technologies (e.g., metagenomics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, agricultural drones) may open new windows to apply this knowledge in promoting tree growth in forest ecosystems. Dual mycorrhization relationships in trees and even triple relationships among trees, mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria offer an interesting physiological system to understand how plants interact with other organisms for better survival. Besides, studies indicate additional roles of mycorrhization in learning, memorizing and communication between host trees through a common mycorrhizal network (CMN). Recent observations in trees suggest that mycorrhization may even promote tolerance to multiple abiotic (e.g., drought, salt, heavy metal stress) and biotic (e.g. fungi) stresses. Due to the extent of physiological reliance, local adaptation of trees is heavily impacted by the mycorrhizal community. This knowledge opens the possibility of a non-GMO avenue to promote tree growth and development. Indeed, mycorrhization could impact growth of trees in nurserys and subsequent survival of the inoculated trees in field conditions. Future studies might integrate hyperspectral imaging and drone technologies to identify tree communities that are deficient in nitrogen and spray mycorrhizal spore formulations on them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Chaudhury
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | - A Chakraborty
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | - F Rahaman
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | - T Sarkar
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | - S Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | - M Das
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Netherway T, Bengtsson J, Buegger F, Fritscher J, Oja J, Pritsch K, Hildebrand F, Krab EJ, Bahram M. Pervasive associations between dark septate endophytic fungi with tree root and soil microbiomes across Europe. Nat Commun 2024; 15:159. [PMID: 38167673 PMCID: PMC10761831 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44172-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Trees interact with a multitude of microbes through their roots and root symbionts such as mycorrhizal fungi and root endophytes. Here, we explore the role of fungal root symbionts as predictors of the soil and root-associated microbiomes of widespread broad-leaved trees across a European latitudinal gradient. Our results suggest that, alongside factors such as climate, soil, and vegetation properties, root colonization by ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and dark septate endophytic fungi also shapes tree-associated microbiomes. Notably, the structure of root and soil microbiomes across our sites is more strongly and consistently associated with dark septate endophyte colonization than with mycorrhizal colonization and many abiotic factors. Root colonization by dark septate endophytes also has a consistent negative association with the relative abundance and diversity of nutrient cycling genes. Our study not only indicates that root-symbiotic interactions are an important factor structuring soil communities and functions in forest ecosystems, but also that the hitherto less studied dark septate endophytes are likely to be central players in these interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tarquin Netherway
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Jan Bengtsson
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Franz Buegger
- Research Unit for Environmental Simulation (EUS), German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Fritscher
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
- Digital Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Jane Oja
- Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 40 Lai St, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Karin Pritsch
- Research Unit for Environmental Simulation (EUS), German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Falk Hildebrand
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
- Digital Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Eveline J Krab
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lennart Hjelms väg 9, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Bahram
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 40 Lai St, Tartu, Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Van Nuland ME, Daws SC, Bailey JK, Schweitzer JA, Busby PE, Peay KG. Above- and belowground fungal biodiversity of Populus trees on a continental scale. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:2406-2419. [PMID: 37973868 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01514-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding drivers of terrestrial fungal communities over large scales is an important challenge for predicting the fate of ecosystems under climate change and providing critical ecological context for bioengineering plant-microbe interactions in model systems. We conducted an extensive molecular and microscopy field study across the contiguous United States measuring natural variation in the Populus fungal microbiome among tree species, plant niche compartments and key symbionts. Our results show clear biodiversity hotspots and regional endemism of Populus-associated fungal communities explained by a combination of climate, soil and geographic factors. Modelling climate change impacts showed a deterioration of Populus mycorrhizal associations and an increase in potentially pathogenic foliar endophyte diversity and prevalence. Geographic differences among these symbiont groups in their sensitivity to environmental change are likely to influence broader forest health and ecosystem function. This dataset provides an above- and belowground atlas of Populus fungal biodiversity at a continental scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Van Nuland
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, SPUN, Dover, DE, USA.
| | - S Caroline Daws
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joseph K Bailey
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer A Schweitzer
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Posy E Busby
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kabir G Peay
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Becklin KM, Viele BM, Coleman HD. Nutrient conditions mediate mycorrhizal effects on biomass production and cell wall chemistry in poplar. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 43:1571-1583. [PMID: 37166359 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstock is limited by the financial and environmental costs associated with growing and processing lignocellulosic material and the resilience of these plants to environmental stress. Symbiotic associations with arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi represent a potential strategy for expanding feedstock production while reducing nutrient inputs. Comparing AM and EM effects on wood production and chemical composition is a necessary step in developing biofuel feedstocks. Here, we assessed the productivity, biomass allocation and secondary cell wall (SCW) composition of greenhouse-grown Populus tremuloidesMichx. inoculated with either AM or EM fungi. Given the long-term goal of reducing nutrient inputs for biofuel production, we further tested the effects of nutrient availability and nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry on mycorrhizal responses. Associations with both AM and EM fungi increased plant biomass by 14-74% depending on the nutrient conditions but had minimal effects on SCW composition. Mycorrhizal plants, especially those inoculated with EM fungi, also allocated a greater portion of their biomass to roots, which could be beneficial in the field where plants are likely to experience both water and nutrient stress. Leaf nutrient content was weakly but positively correlated with wood production in mycorrhizal plants. Surprisingly, phosphorus played a larger role in EM plants compared with AM plants. Relative nitrogen and phosphorus availability were correlated with shifts in SCW composition. For AM associations, the benefit of increased wood biomass may be partially offset by increased lignin content, a trait that affects downstream processing of lignocellulosic tissue for biofuels. By comparing AM and EM effects on the productivity and chemical composition of lignocellulosic tissue, this work links broad functional diversity in mycorrhizal associations to key biofuel traits and highlights the importance of considering both biotic and abiotic factors when developing strategies for sustainable biofuel production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Becklin
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 107 College Place, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Bethanie M Viele
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 107 College Place, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Heather D Coleman
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 107 College Place, Syracuse, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Karst J, Wasyliw J, Birch JD, Franklin J, Chang SX, Erbilgin N. Long-term nitrogen addition does not sustain host tree stem radial growth but doubles the abundance of high-biomass ectomycorrhizal fungi. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4125-4138. [PMID: 34002431 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Global change has altered nitrogen availability in boreal forest soils. As ectomycorrhizal fungi play critical ecological functions, shifts in their abundance and community composition must be considered in the response of forests to changes in nitrogen availability. Furthermore, ectomycorrhizas are symbiotic, so the response of ectomycorrhizal fungi to nitrogen cannot be understood in isolation of their plant partners. Most previous studies, however, neglect to measure the response of host trees to nitrogen addition simultaneously with that of fungal communities. In addition to being one-sided, most of these studies have also been conducted in coniferous forests. Deciduous and "dual-mycorrhizal" tree species, namely those that form ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizas, have received little attention despite being widespread in the boreal forest. We applied nitrogen (30 kg ha-1 year-1 ) for 13 years to stands dominated by aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and hypothesized that tree stem radial growth would increase, ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass would decrease, ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition would shift, and the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi would increase. Nitrogen addition initially increased stem radial growth of aspen, but it was not sustained at the time we characterized their mycorrhizas. After 13 years, the abundance of fungi possessing extramatrical hyphae, or "high-biomass" ectomycorrhizas, doubled. No changes occurred in ectomycorrhizal and AM fungal community composition, or in ecto- and AM abundance measured as root colonization. This dual-mycorrhizal tree species did not shift away from ectomycorrhizal fungal dominance with long-term nitrogen input. The unexpected increase in high-biomass ectomycorrhizal fungi with nitrogen addition may be due to increased carbon allocation to their fungal partners by growth-limited trees. Given the focus on conifers in past studies, reconciling results of plant-mycorrhizal fungal relationships in stands of deciduous trees may demand a broader view on the impacts of nitrogen addition on the structure and function of boreal forests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justine Karst
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Joshua Wasyliw
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Joseph D Birch
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - James Franklin
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Scott X Chang
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Nadir Erbilgin
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|