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Salvatori N, Moreno M, Zotti M, Iuorio A, Cartenì F, Bonanomi G, Mazzoleni S, Giannino F. Process based modelling of plants-fungus interactions explains fairy ring types and dynamics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19918. [PMID: 37963907 PMCID: PMC10646123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46006-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Many mushroom-forming fungi can develop circular colonies affecting the vegetation in a phenomenon named fairy rings. Since the nineteenth century, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain how fairy ring fungi form ring-like shapes instead of disks and why they produce negative or positive effects on the surrounding vegetation. In this context, we present a novel process-based mathematical model aimed at reproducing the mycelial spatial configuration of fairy rings and test different literature-supported hypotheses explaining the suppressive and stimulating effects of fungi on plants. Simulations successfully reproduced the shape of fairy rings through the accumulation of fungal self-inhibitory compounds. Moreover, regarding the negative effects of fungi on vegetation, results suggest that fungal-induced soil hydrophobicity is sufficient to reproduce all observed types of fairy rings, while the potential production of phytotoxins is not. In relation to the positive effects of fungi on plants, results show that the release of phytostimulants is needed to reproduce the vegetation patterns associated to some fairy ring types. Model outputs can guide future experiments and field work to corroborate the considered hypotheses and provide more information for further model improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Salvatori
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
- 1DI4A, Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Moreno
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zotti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Iuorio
- Faculty of Mathematics, University of Vienna, Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Parthenope University of Naples, Department of Engineering, Centro Direzionale-Isola C4, 80143, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Cartenì
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Giuliano Bonanomi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Stefano Mazzoleni
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Francesco Giannino
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
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