长白山阔叶红松林大型真菌多样性

采用取样调查方法获得长白山阔叶红松混交林蒙古栎+红松+云杉群落、红松+色木槭+蒙古栎群落、红松+假色槭+糠椴群落、红松+花楷槭+紫椴群落、长白松+红松+山槐群落中的大型真菌物种组成和群落结构的基本数据,分析不同植物群落中大型真菌的丰富度指数R1、R2、多样性指数N1、N2和H′、均匀度指数E。大型真菌标本鉴定采用形态学分类方法,凭证标本保存于吉林农业大学菌物标本馆(HMJAU)。多样性研究结果:(1)共采集鉴定大型真菌238种,隶属于90属44科,其中外生菌根菌100种;腐生菌135种;其他3种。(2)在不同的植物群落中大型真菌丰富度、多样性、均匀度指数有所差异,其中蒙古栎+红松+云杉群落中的丰富度指数和多样性指数最高,而红松+色木槭+蒙古栎群落中的均匀度最大;(3)大型真菌子实体的发生在1a中出现2次高峰,即7月中下旬和9月上旬,第1次高峰期的优势类群为腐生菌,外生菌根菌较少;第2次高峰期优势类群则以外生菌根菌为主,腐生菌相对较少。     

呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松外生菌根真菌多样性

沙地樟子松是我国北方重要的防风固沙造林树种,也是一种典型的外生菌根依赖型树种。为揭示呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松外生菌根真菌多样性,以中龄、近熟、成熟3个龄组沙地樟子松人工林和沙地樟子松天然林为研究对象,采用野外调查和分子生物学相结合的研究方法,鉴定分析沙地樟子松外生菌根真菌种群特征。研究结果表明：（1）呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松外生菌根真菌共有10个OTU属于子囊菌,48个OTU属于担子菌,隶属于21科25属。（2）天然林优势菌为糙缘腺革菌属Amphinema、丝膜菌属Cortinarius和乳牛肝菌属Suillus,人工林优势菌为乳牛肝菌属,其余菌种相对丰度随着林龄变化波动较大。（3）天然林与人工林外生菌根真菌种群Shannon、Simpson和Pielou指数存在显著差异（P<0.05）,人工林间alpha多样性指数差异不显著（P>0.05）。（4）呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松天然林和人工林外生菌根真菌种群组成存在较大差异,其中近熟林的外生菌根真菌群落组成与天然林的最为接近。     

毛乌素沙地樟子松外生菌根真菌多样性特征

【背景】外生菌根真菌(ectomycorrhizal fungi,ECMF)侵入林木根系形成外生菌根,是樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica)适应环境变化和环境胁迫的重要途径。【目的】深入理解沙地樟子松人工林外生菌根真菌群落组成和多样性。【方法】以毛乌素沙地3个林龄(27、33和44 a)沙地樟子松人工林为研究对象,采用rDNA ITS区段PCR扩增测序方法鉴定分析沙地樟子松外生菌根真菌群落组成并计算多样性指数。【结果】毛乌素沙地樟子松共获得56个外生菌根真菌OTU,隶属于2门3纲8目15科21属,优势属为棉革菌属(Tomentella)、地孔菌属(Geopora)和阿太菌属(Amphinema)。27 a人工林外生菌根真菌丰富度指数最高,33 a人工林ECMF的α多样性指数最高,但不同林龄之间不存在显著差异(P>0.05)。不同林龄沙地樟子松ECMF群落组成存在差异,地孔菌属、棉革菌属、Delastria和Mallocybe的动态变化是造成群落组成差异的主要原因。【结论】毛乌素沙地樟子松人工林外生菌根真菌群落组成较为丰富,该研究区的群落组成可能比多样性更能体现外生菌根真菌群落随林龄的动态变化,伴随着林木的生长成熟,部分功能性外生菌根真菌的动态变化可能与沙地樟子松人工林退化存在密切联系,有待进一步研究。     

海南岛不同林龄短枝木麻黄凋落物内外真菌多样性分析

以海南海口桂林洋滨海立地上幼龄林、中龄林和成熟林短枝木麻黄为研究对象,采集凋落物和林地土壤样品,利用IlluminaMiseq PE300测序平台对凋落物内外真菌ITS rDNA进行高通量测序,分析了凋落物内外真菌群落多样性及其与凋落物和林地土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明：（1）所有样品获得669476条有效序列,隶属6门23纲59目119科212属314种。3林龄木麻黄凋落物外生真菌多样性和丰富度高于内生真菌。（2）内外真菌群落结构有较大共性,子囊菌门和担子菌门为优势门,煤炱目、炭角菌目和木耳目为内外真菌共同优势目。Coniochaetales、Magnaporthales等4个目仅在凋落物内部分布,而蛙粪霉目、丝孢酵母目为外生真菌特有菌群。（3）木麻黄凋落物pH值和有机碳显著影响着凋落物内生真菌群落结构,而土壤容重和铵态氮显著影响着外生真菌群落结构。研究结果为探讨微生物在木麻黄凋落物降解过程中作用的研究奠定基础。     

不同人为干扰下广东和江西地区大型真菌多样性特征研究

为了进一步掌握我国热带亚热带地区森林微生物资源多样性、区系特征以及与生态环境的响应, 拓展森林生物学研究内涵, 以广东和江西两个具有不同社会经济发展状况的省份, 各选取2个具有不同人为干扰程度的保护区, 结合野外调查、标本馆记录和文献统计, 分析了大型真菌多样性、区系特征和群落结构特征。结果表明: 大型真菌物种多样性随着人为干扰的增强而降低。广东鼎湖山国家级自然保护区407种, 其中, 食用菌66种, 药用菌47种, 木腐菌96种, 外生菌根菌121种; 广东南岭国家级自然保护区574种, 其中食用菌206种, 药用菌94种, 木腐菌180种, 外生菌根菌134种; 江西九连山国家级自然保护区249种, 其中食用菌53种, 药用菌52种, 外生菌根菌56种, 木腐菌104种; 江西庐山国家级自然保护区192种, 其中食用菌70种, 药用菌67种, 外生菌根菌64种, 木腐菌47种。南岭保护区有优势科19个, 鼎湖山保护区有优势科13个, 九连山保护区有优势科5个, 庐山保护区有优势科5个; 四个保护区有相同科的数量为27, 约占总科数的36%。大型真菌群落结构也随着人为干扰的增加发生变化, 共生菌呈现下降的趋势, 木生菌则呈现上升的趋势。在属级区系成分分析中, 4个保护区均具有从泛热带向北温带过渡的地理区系特征。经多元线性回归分析, 发现大型真菌丰富度与年平均温度、相对湿度的相关性不显著。人为干扰强度对大型真菌物种组成与群落结构具有一定的影响, 虽然能够增加木腐真菌的种类和数量, 但总体上对大型真菌物种多样性水平会产生负面影响。     

沙坡头地区凋落物分解及其对土壤微生物群落的影响

以腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头人工固沙植被区典型植物种凋落物(小画眉草、藓类、油蒿叶片)为对象,运用凋落物分解袋法和高通量测序技术,分析了3种植物凋落物分解特征及其对土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明: 分解时间和凋落物类型均显著影响分解速率,藓类分解最慢,13个月后质量损失比仅为15.4%,油蒿叶片和小画眉草的平均分解速率分别是藓类的4.9和3.4倍。经过11个月的分解,细菌群落的优势菌门为放线菌门和变形菌门,真菌群落的优势菌门是子囊菌门;藓类分解过程中,拟杆菌门和绿弯菌门的相对丰度显著增加,担子菌门的相对丰度显著降低。凋落物分解后,细菌和真菌群落物种多样性和丰富度显著增加,细菌群落组成在凋落物间变化不显著,真菌群落变化显著。凋落物的分解速率与细菌和真菌群落多样性及丰富度均呈负线性变化。植物多糖、全磷和土壤pH、微生物生物量氮、铵态氮含量是影响微生物群落结构的主要因子。凋落物分解改变了土壤微生物群落物种组成和种间相似性,显著增加了土壤中微生物群落的多样性和丰富度,促进了土壤生境的恢复。     

温度、pH及干旱胁迫对沙地樟子松外生菌根菌生长影响

通过对采集于沙地樟子松人工林内的3种外生菌根真菌（牛肝菌Boletus sp.、乳菇Lactariussp.、高环柄菇Macrolepiota procera）进行纯培养,在不同温度、pH值和PEG模拟干旱胁迫条件下,观测了外生菌根菌的生长发育状况.结果表明,3种外生菌根菌生物量在不同pH范围（3～7）内存在着显著差异（P＜0.05）;在低于5℃和高于37℃时,3种外生菌根菌均不能生长,其最适生长温度分别为：牛肝菌,25℃高环柄菇,25～28℃,乳菇,25～30℃;在低浓度PEG胁迫处理条件下（10%,-0.20MPa）,3种外生菌根菌的生长均有所增加,当PEG胁迫达到30%（-1.53 MPa）时,3种外生菌根菌的生长均受到抑制.与上述结果比较,沙地樟子松人工林地土壤的实际pH值在外生菌根菌的最适生长范围内;林地最高气温值远远超过3种外生菌根菌的最适生长值的时间在每年的生长季都会出现;在极端干旱年份（如1996年）,林地土壤的实际含水量在生长季节（5～9月）远远低于抑制外生菌根菌生长的土壤含水量,可能影响到外生菌根菌的生存.因此,可以推断,沙地樟子松人工林地的外生菌根菌的生长与发育,在干旱胁迫及高温作用下受到很大程度的影响,如果仅从微生物角度分析,外生菌根菌在干旱和高温条件下不能生长或已经死亡是导致沙地樟子松人工林衰退的一个原因.     

土壤微生物群落对麻栎-刺槐混交林凋落物分解的影响

以麻栎-刺槐混交林和麻栎纯林为研究对象,采用野外定点采样、室内分析与高通量测序的方法,对凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物菌群多样性特征及其对凋落物分解速率的影响进行了研究。结果表明:(1)麻栎-刺槐混交林凋落物的分解速率高于麻栎纯林。两种林分凋落物有机碳(TOC)、全氮(TN)发生释放,全磷(TP)发生积累-释放的过程。(2)两种林分土壤细菌优势类群为放线菌门(Acidobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Actinobacteria)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia),土壤真菌优势类群为担子菌门(Basidiomycota)、子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和被孢霉门(Moritierellomycota)。(3)凋落物分解过程中,麻栎-刺槐混交林土壤微生物菌群丰富度指数和菌群多样性指数变化范围小于麻栎纯林。(4)凋落物分解速率与土壤细菌菌群丰富度指数和菌群多样性指数呈显著正相关,与土壤真菌菌群丰富度指数呈显著正相关。土壤微生物群落对麻栎-刺槐混交林和麻栎纯林凋落物分解速率具有重要影响,研究结果为深入开展混交林土壤微生物多样性对凋落物分解的影响研究提供理论依据。     

亚热带森林菌根植物根系真菌群落结构对氮磷添加的响应

植物根系真菌对维系植物的营养吸收和健康具有重要作用。本研究分析了不同菌根类型植物根系中真菌的群落结构对外源氮(N)、磷(P)、氮和磷(NP)输入的响应。试验采集了无添加(对照)和N、P、NP添加处理下亚热带森林3种菌根类型(丛枝菌根、外生菌根、欧石楠菌根)9种植物的根系，运用高通量测序技术检测根系中真菌的多样性和群落组成。结果表明：9种植物根系真菌群落均主要由担子菌门和子囊菌门组成；P添加下子囊菌门的相对多度显著低于对照，而担子菌门的相对多度显著高于对照。欧石楠菌根植物根系中子囊菌门的相对多度显著高于丛枝菌根和外生菌根植物，而其担子菌门的相对多度显著低于丛枝菌根和外生菌根植物。与对照相比，P添加显著降低了植物根系中真菌的α多样性，改变了不同菌根类型植物根系中真菌的群落组成，而N添加和菌根类型的影响不明显。与对照和N添加相比，NP添加使全部植物根系中真菌群落变异程度更大，即群落整体更加趋异，而外生菌根植物根系中的真菌群落比丛枝菌根植物根系中的真菌群落变异更小，即群落更趋同。综上，P养分是影响亚热带森林土壤中树木根系真菌群落结构的关键因素。本研究有助于提升对全球环境变化下亚热带地区植物根系...     

广西凭祥红锥-马尾松混交林菌根际微生物群落结构

以广西凭祥红锥-马尾松混交林中红锥和马尾松为研究对象,采集林下外生菌根和根际土壤,利用高通量测序分析该混交林下的菌根际微生物群落结构。结果表明,红锥、马尾松菌根际优势真菌为红菇属Russula、被孢霉属Mortierella、乳菇属Lactarius、鹅膏属Amanita、拟锁瑚菌属Clavulinopsis、丝盖伞属Inocybe、锁瑚菌属Clavulina和木霉属Trichoderma,其中,Russula为绝对优势类群,菌根和根际中共生真菌均以外生菌根真菌为主。而优势细菌主要为常见菌根辅助细菌,如伯克霍尔德氏菌属Burkholderia、假单细胞菌属Pseudomonas、慢生根瘤菌属Bradyrhizobium、根瘤菌属Rhizobium和土壤杆菌属Agrobacterium,除芽孢杆菌属Bacillus外,菌根内菌根辅助细菌均高于根际。PICRUST功能分析表明红锥和马尾松菌根中部分膜运输通路（ABC transporters、transporters和secretion system ABC）和信号转导通路（two-component system）的丰度高于根际。α多样性分析表明,菌根和根际微生物多样性存在显著差异,马尾松菌根、根际真菌群落多样性显著高于红锥;β多样性分析表明两树种菌根和根际分别具有相似的微生物群落结构。优势菌群和土壤环境因子的RDA分析表明,土壤pH、全磷和全钾是影响菌根际菌群结构的主要环境因子。     

Restoration of Aboveground Ectomycorrhizal Flora in Stands of Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) in The Netherlands by Removal of Litter and Humus

Species richness and sporocarp density of ectomycorrhizal fungi in stands of Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) in The Netherlands have decreased during the last decades. The lowest species diversity was found in P. sylvestris stands situated in areas with high atmospheric deposition of nitrogen originating from intensive livestock industry. In these stands, litter and humus have accumulated into thick layers, and the herbaceous understory vegetation is dominated by the grass Deschampsia flexuosa (wavy hair grass). Earlier investigations showed negative correlations between the number of species of ectomycorrhizal fungi above ground and the depth of humus layers. Our aim was to investigate whether removal of litter, humus layers, and herbaceous vegetation (sods)—so-called "sod cutting"—increased species diversity above ground and sporocarp density of ectomycorrhizal fungi in P. sylvestris stands of different age. Therefore, three P. sylvestris stands of different ages (planted in 1987, 1963, and 1924) on Haplic Arenosol were selected. In 1990, litter, humus layers, and herbaceous vegetation were removed to create nutrient-poor sandy soils without overlying litter and humus layers. Untreated plots served as controls. Surveys conducted in 1991, 1992, and 1993 indicated that sod cutting enhanced the species diversity and sporocarp density of ectomycorrhizal fungi. These results suggest that sod cutting is a way to restore ectomycorrhizal flora in medium-aged and old stands of P. sylvestris where litter and humus have accumulated.     

Identities and distributions of the co-invading ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of exotic pines in the Hawaiian Islands

Pine species have become invasive throughout the globe and threaten to replace native biota. The threat of pine invasion is particularly pressing in parts of the tropics where there are no native pines. The factors that govern pine invasion are not often well understood. However, key to pine survival is an obligate and mutualistic interaction with ectomycorrhizal fungi. Thus for pines to successfully invade new habitats compatible ectomycorrhizal fungi must already be present, or be co-introduced. The purpose of this study was to examine the community structure of non-native ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with pine invasions in the Hawaiian Islands. To accomplish this we executed a field and greenhouse study and used a molecular ecology approach to identify the fungi associating with invasive pines in Hawai‘i. We show that: (1) ectomycorrhizal fungal species richness in non-native pine plantations is far less than what is found in pine’s native range, (2) there was a significant decrease in average ectomycorrhizal fungal species richness as distance from pine plantations increased and, (3) Suillus species were the dominant fungi colonizing pines outside plantations. The keystone ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa responsible for pine establishment in Hawai‘i are within genera commonly associated with pine invasions throughout the globe. We surmise that these fungi share functional traits such as the ability for long-distance dispersal from plantations and host tree colonization via spore that lead to their success when introduced to new habitats.     

Interactions between needles of Pinus resinosa and ectomycorrhizal fungi

Relatively little is known about the factors controlling ectomycorrhizal fungal communities. One possible factor is forest litter chemistry. In a series of experiments we demonstrated that the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi able to colonize red pine ( Pinus resinosa Ait.) are differentially affected by red pine needles and needle chemical components. For example, water extracts of pine needles stimulated the growth of Suillus intermedius (Smith & Thiers) Smith & Thiers and inhibited the growth of Amanita rubescens Pers. Catechin and epicatechin gallate, components of the water extract, acted similarly to the extract. The volatile compounds α- and β-pinene also had differential effects on the growth of the various species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Our results suggest that forest litter chemistry has the potential differentially to affect the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungal species and so could affect the structure of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities.     

Colonization and decomposition of salal (Gaultheria shallon) leaf litter by saprobic fungi in successional forests on coastal British Columbia

The colonization of leaf litter by saprobic fungi was studied in old-growth and post-harvest successional Douglas-fir forests on southeast Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This study focused on leaf litter of salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh.), a dominant understory shrub in all stands. Salal litter is characterized by the occurrence of bleached portions attributable to fungal colonization of the litter and to the variable decomposition of recalcitrant compounds, such as lignin. Analyses of proximate chemical fractions, fungal assemblages on the bleached leaf area, and pure culture decomposition assays indicated that Marasmius sp. and Coccomyces sp. were responsible for rapid decomposition and bleaching of salal leaf litter. The bleached area accounted for 17%-22% of total area of salal leaf litter collected in immature (40-60 years old), mature (85-105 years old), and old-growth (more than 290 years old) stands, but for only 2% in regeneration (5-15 years old) stands. The reduction of bleached leaf area occupied by Marasmius sp. and Coccomyces sp. in regeneration stands could be due to the changes in microenvironmental conditions on the forest floor, in litter quality, or in food-web structure in soils. The decrease of fungi able to decay recalcitrant compounds may lead to a reduction of salal decomposition rates in clear-cut sites that would persist until canopy closure occurs.     

Ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir: a comparison of species richness in native western North American forests and Patagonian plantations from Argentina

The putative ectomycorrhizal fungal species registered from sporocarps associated with ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests in their natural range distribution (i.e., western Canada, USA, and Mexico) and from plantations in south Argentina and other parts of the world are listed. One hundred and fifty seven taxa are reported for native ponderosa pine forests and 514 taxa for native Douglas-fir forests based on available literature and databases. A small group of genera comprises a high proportion of the species richness for native Douglas-fir (i.e., Cortinarius, Inocybe, and Russula), whereas in native ponderosa pine, the species richness is more evenly distributed among several genera. The comparison between ectomycorrhizal species richness associated with both trees in native forests and in Patagonia (Argentina) shows far fewer species in the latter, with 18 taxa for the ponderosa pine and 15 for the Douglas-fir. Epigeous species richness is clearly dominant in native Douglas-fir, whereas a more balanced relation epigeous/hypogeous richness is observed for native ponderosa pine; a similar trend was observed for Patagonian plantations. Most fungi in Patagonian Douglas-fir plantations have not been recorded in plantations elsewhere, except Suillus lakei and Thelephora terrestris, and only 56% of the fungal taxa recorded in Douglas-fir plantations around the world are known from native forests, the other taxa being new associations for this host, suggesting that new tree + ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa associations are favored in artificial situations as plantations.     

Partial restoration of fungal and plant species diversity by removal of litter and humus layers in stands of Scots pine in the Netherlands

A field experiment was set up in five mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in the Netherlands in order to study the effects of removal of litter and humus on ectomycorrhizal fungi and vegetation of higher plants, bryophytes, and lichens. Lime was also applied as a countermeasure to the removal of surplus cations. Application of lime did not have significant effects on mycorrhizal fungi. Removal of ectorganic material increased species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The number of fruit bodies was also higher in the sod-cut plots, but the difference compared with the controls was not significant in all years. A major effect of removal of the ectorganic layer was a reversion of ectomycorrhizal succession to earlier stages. Liming increased the number and cover of ruderal, nitrophilous plant species. Sod-cutting caused a reversion of the green vegetation to earlier successional stages.     

Ectomycorrhizal fungi of exotic pine plantations in relation to native host trees in Iran: evidence of host range expansion by local symbionts to distantly related host taxa

Introduction of exotic plants change soil microbial communities which may have detrimental ecological consequences for ecosystems. In this study, we examined the community structure and species richness of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi associated with exotic pine plantations in relation to adjacent native ectomycorrhizal trees in Iran to elucidate the symbiont exchange between distantly related hosts, i.e. Fagales (Fagaceae and Betulaceae) and Pinaceae. The combination of morphological and molecular identification approaches revealed that 84.6 % of species with more than one occurrence (at least once on pines) were shared with native trees and only 5.9 % were found exclusively on pine root tips. The community diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the pine plantations adjacent to native EcM trees was comparable to their adjacent native trees, but the isolated plantations hosted relatively a species-poor community. Specific mycobionts of conifers were dominant in the isolated plantation while rarely found in the plantations adjacent to native EcM trees. These data demonstrate the importance of habitat isolation and dispersal limitation of EcM fungi in their potential of host range expansion. The great number of shared and possibly compatible symbiotic species between exotic Pinaceae and local Fagales (Fagaceae and Betulaceae) may reflect their evolutionary adaptations and/or ancestral compatibility with one another.     

Effect of forest thinning and wood quality on the short-term wood decomposition rate in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus tabuliformis</Emphasis> plantation

The effects of forest thinning and wood quality on wood decomposition in the mineral soil were investigated in a Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carriére) plantation in northern China by measuring mass loss and changes in wood properties (carbohydrates, lignin and nitrogen (N) concentrations) in wood stakes of two tree species—loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Stakes were inserted to a 20 cm soil depth in stands with three thinning levels (low, moderate, and heavy) and an unharvested control and removed after 1 year. There were significant differences in stake mass loss among the treatments. The species effect on the stake mass loss was marginally significant. Wood N content of both species increased during decomposition in all thinning treatments, and was only correlated with aspen mass loss. Wood properties of stakes placed in each stand before insertion (t?=?0) were similar, except for pine lignin concentration and aspen lignin: N ratio, but neither had any effect on thinning treatment results. Lignin concentration increased and carbohydrate concentration decreased in both aspen and pine wood stakes during decomposition across all thinning treatments, which suggests that brown-rot fungi are dominant wood-decomposers on our study site. We conclude that thinning has a significant influence on the wood decomposition in the mineral soil of this Chinese pine plantation.     

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in late-successional Swedish boreal forests, and their composition following wildfire

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of wildfires on ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal communities in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) stands. Below- and above-ground communities were analysed in terms of species richness and evenness by examining mycorrhizas and sporocarps in a chronosequence of burned stands in comparison with adjacent unburned late-successional stands. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-region (rDNA) of mycobionts from single mycorrhizas was digested with three restriction enzymes and compared with an ITS–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) reference database of EM sporocarps. Spatial variation seemed to be more prominent than the effects of fire on the EM fungal species composition. Most of the common species tended to be found in all sites, suggesting that EM fungal communities show a high degree of continuity following low-intensity wildfires. Species richness was not affected by fire, whereas the evenness of species distributions of mycorrhizas was lower in the burned stands. The diversity of EM fungi was relatively high considering that there were only three EM tree species present in the stands. In total, 135 EM taxa were identified on the basis of their RFLP patterns; 66 species were recorded as sporocarps, but only 11 of these were also recorded as mycorrhizas. The species composition of the below-ground community of EM fungi did not reflect that of the sporocarps produced. EM fungal species present in our ITS–RFLP reference database accounted for 54–99% of the total sporocarp production in the stands, but only 0–32% of the mycorrhizal abundance.     

Can ectomycorrhizal colonization of Pinus resinosa roots affect their decomposition?

In many forest ecosystems, fine root litter comprises a large pool of organic carbon and nutrients. In temperate climates ectomycorrhizal fungi colonize the roots of many forest plant species. If ectomycorrhizal colonization influenced root decomposition, it could significantly influence carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. Fungal tissues and fine roots may decompose at different rates and, therefore, ectomycorrhizal colonization may either hasten or retard root decomposition. Unfortunately, no comparisons of the decomposition of roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi have yet been made. Therefore, we compared decomposition of Pinus resinosa fine roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi from a Pinus resinosa plantation. We also compared the decomposition rates of nonmycorrhizal Pinus resinosa fine roots with roots colonized by nine species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. We found that the several tested isolates of ectomycorrhizal fungi decomposed far more rapidly than the fine roots and that ectomycorrhizal colonization either had no significant effect on root decomposition or significantly increased root decomposition depending on the isolate of fungus. We conclude that the composition of an ectomycorrhizal fungal community may affect carbon and nutrient cycling through its influence on root decomposition.