Ectomycorrhizal exudates and pre-exposure to elevated CO2 affects soil bacterial growth and community structure

Ectomycorrhizal fungi produce low molecular weight organic compounds, supporting diverse microbial communities. To link mycorrhizal root exudation directly to bacterial responses, we used Scots pine exudates with (Suillus variegatus and Piloderma fallax) and without mycorrhiza as substrata for forest soil bacteria. Bacterial growth and vitality was monitored, and community composition determined using T-RFLP, cloning and sequencing. We investigated if the amount of organic acids in exudates explained bacterial growth, and whether bacterial communities were influenced by pre-exposure to elevated atmospheric CO₂. We demonstrated functional differences in bacterial growth rates related to CO₂. There was a shift in the bacterial community (e.g. Burkholderia sp. and gamma-proteobacteria) toward organisms better able to rapidly utilize exudates when pine microcosms were pre-exposed to elevated CO₂. Soil bacteria from all treatments tended to grow more abundantly and rapidly in exudates from Piloderma-colonized seedlings, suggesting that the organic acids and/or unidentified compounds present supported greater growth.     

Studies on Ectomycorrhizae of Pine II. Growth Inhibition of Mycorrhizal Fungi by Volatile Organic Constituents of Pinus silvestris (Scots Pine) Roots

The effects of several monoterpenes and the sesquiterpene longifolene on the vegetative growth of two mycorrhizal fungi, Boletus variegatus and Rhizopogon roseolus, were studied in petri plate experiments on an agar medium. The test substances are natural constituents of Pinus silvestris (Scots pine) roots. Vapors from 20 μl of all the test substances, upon a 5 day exposure inhibited the growth of both the mycorrhizal fungi 55% to 86%. The two fungi, however, differed in their tolerance to individual compounds. It is suggested that the terpenes and the sesquiterpenes play an important role in the development of the symbiotic condition in ectomycorrhizae by restricting the growth of the mycorrhizal fungi within the host root.     

不同丛枝菌根真菌对万寿菊生长及柴油降解率的影响

在盆栽条件下,用沈抚污灌区非灭菌水稻土,研究了柴油浓度为5000mg·kg^1时接种3种AM真菌(Glomus mosseae,G.geospora,G.constrictum)和细菌对万寿菊(Tagetes erecta)耐油性的影响。结果表明,在此浓度下,AM菌仍能和万寿菊形成共生体,白色万寿菊比黄色万寿菊耐油能力强,总生物量增加63．1％;接种AM真菌的处理,其侵染率比对照高3．5％～29．9％．G．masseae和G．geospora是较好的菌种,总生物量分别比对照增加9．0％和42．7％;混接AM真菌效果一般。施入细菌菌剂虽然抑制了AM菌对万寿菊的侵染,但促进了菌根化植物的营养生长和生殖生长,5种接菌处理中,以接种G．geospora和混接AM菌和细菌的处理最好,对柴油的降解率分别比对照增加16．51％和14．05％。     

Laccaria bicolor S238N improves Scots pine mineral nutrition by increasing root nutrient uptake from soil minerals but does not increase mineral weathering

The role of ectomycorrhizal fungi on mineral nutrient mobilization and uptake is crucial for tree nutrition and growth in temperate forest ecosystems. By using a “mineral weathering budget” approach, this study aims to quantify the effect of the symbiosis with the ectomycorrhizal model strain Laccaria bicolor S238N on mineral weathering and tree nutrition, carrying out a column experiment with a quartz/biotite substrate. Each column was planted with one Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) non-mycorrhizal or mycorrhizal with L. bicolor, with exception of the abiotic control treatment. The columns were continuously supplied with a nutrient-poor solution. A mineral weathering budget was calculated for K and Mg. The pine shoot growth was significantly increased (73%) when plants were mycorrhizal with L. bicolor. Whatever their mycorrhizal status, pines increased mineral weathering by factors 1.5 to 2.1. No difference between non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal pine treatments was revealed, however, mycorrhizal pines assimilated significantly more K and Mg. This suggests that in our experimental conditions, L. bicolor S238N improved shoot growth and K and Mg assimilation in Scots pine mainly by increasing the uptake of dissolved nutrients, linked to a better exploration and exploitation of the soil by the mycorrhizal roots.     

The effects of toxic metals,content of nutrients and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on the level of phenolics in roots and growth of Scots pine seedlings

The effects of two substrates and several strains of mycorrhizal fungi on the content of soluble phenolics in roots and growth of Scots pine seedlings was investigated. The first substrate was fertile and contaminated with copper, zinc and lead, whereas the second one displayed nutrient deficiency. The dry weights of needles, trunks, roots and the total biomass were higher in groups of seedlings inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi on fertile and polluted substrate. Inoculation of pine seedlings on this substrate resulted in a decrease in concentration of phenolics in roots and except for seedlings inoculated with Laccaria laccata negatively influenced the above-ground part: root ratio.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a specialised niche for rhizospheric and endocellular bacteria

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi produce an extensive hyphal network which develops in the soil, producing a specialised niche for bacteria. The aim of this paper is to review briefly the interactions shown by these symbiotic fungi with two bacterial groups: (i) the plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) which are usually associated with fungal surfaces in the rhizosphere, and (ii) a group of endocellular bacteria, previously identified as being related to Burkholderia on the basis of their ribosomal sequence strains. The endobacteria have been found in the cytoplasm of some isolates of AM fungi belonging to Gigasporaceae and offer a rare example of bacteria living in symbiosis with fungi. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The threatened plant intermediate wintergreen (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrola media</Emphasis>) associates with a wide range of biotrophic fungi in native Scottish pine woods

The plant intermediate wintergreen (Pyrola media, Ericaceae) is in need of conservation action in Scotland. Although widespread, it is locally distributed in dwarf shrub heath and more commonly in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) woodlands. A recent study on the mycorrhizal status of Pyrola suggested that they associate with a restricted range of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Here, we examined the hypothesis that specialisation by P. media for fungi usually associated with Scots pine is a factor in promoting its occurrence in this habitat. The fungal community associated with the roots of P. media growing in a Scots pine forest was determined by morphotyping, polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing. Molecular identification found 49 taxa representing ecto- and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, dark septate endophytes, saprotrophs, and fungi of unknown trophic status. The majority of the taxa (67.4%) were Basidiomycota, with 24.4% known to be ECM fungi specific to Pinus sp. or conifers. However, a wide range of other mycorrhizal fungi with varying degrees of host specificity were also found, including taxa usually associated with deciduous hosts. In conclusion, the broad range of mycorrhizal fungi recovered from the roots of P. media suggests that specialization is not a major factor in determining its distribution.     

Frost hardiness of mycorrhizal (Hebeloma sp.) and non-mycorrhizal Scots pine roots

The frost hardiness (FH) of mycorrhizal [ectomycorrhizal (ECM)] and non-mycorrhizal (NM) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings was studied to assess whether mycorrhizal symbiosis affected the roots’ tolerance of below-zero temperatures. ECM (Hebeloma sp.) and NM seedlings were cultivated in a growth chamber for 18 weeks. After 13 weeks’ growth in long-day and high-temperature (LDHT) conditions, a half of the ECM and NM seedlings were moved into a chamber with short-day and low-temperature (SDLT) conditions to cold acclimate. After exposures to a range of below-zero temperatures, the FH of the roots was assessed by means of the relative electrolyte leakage test. The FH was determined as the inflection point of the temperature-response curve. No significant difference was found between the FH of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots in LDHT (?8.9 and ?9.8 °C) or SDLT (?7.5 and ?6.8 °C). The mycorrhizal treatment had no significant effect on the total dry mass, the allocation of dry mass among the roots and needles or nutrient accumulation. The mycorrhizal treatment with Hebeloma sp. did not affect the FH of Scots pine in this experimental setup. More information is needed on the extent to which mycorrhizas tolerate low temperatures, especially with different nutrient contents and different mycorrhiza fungi.     

Effect of inoculation of a TOL plasmid containing mycorrhizosphere bacterium on development of Scots pine seedlings, their mycorrhizosphere and the microbial flora in m-toluate-amended soil

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of introduced bacteria containing a contaminant degrading plasmid on the growth and survival of pine seedlings and mycorrhizosphere microbial flora in contaminated soil. The Pseudomonas fluorescens strain OS81, originally isolated from fungal hyphae in contaminated soil, was supplied with the TOL plasmid pWW0::Km (to generate OS81(pWW0::Km)) and inoculated in humus-soil microcosms with and without pine seedlings mycorrhized with Suillus bovinus. After 3 months of regular treatment with m-toluate (mTA) solutions, the introduced catabolic plasmid was found to be disseminated in the indigenous bacterial population of both mycorrhizosphere and soil uncolonized by the fungus. Transconjugants were represented by bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Burkholderia and their number correlated positively with the concentration of mTA applied. Indigenous mTA degrading bacteria with low similarity to Burkholderia species were also enriched in microcosms. They were mostly associated with mycorrhizal soil or fungal structures and virtually absent in microcosms without pines. The total number of Tol(+) bacteria was higher in mycorrhizospheric soil compared with bulk soil. Inoculation with P. fluorescens OS81(pWW0::Km) had a positive effect on the development of roots and fungus in contaminated soil. Both inoculation with the P. fluorescens OS81(pWW0::Km) and mTA contamination as well as the presence of mycorrhized pine roots and fungal hyphae had an effect on the microbial community structure of soil as measured by carbon source oxidation patterns. However, the impact of mTA on the microbial community was more prominent. The study indicates that an effect on plant and fungal development can be obtained by manipulating the mycorrhizosphere. Both introduction of the bacterium carrying the degradative plasmid and the plasmid itself are likely to have a positive effect not only on the organisms involved, but also on bioremediation of contaminated soil, a factor that was not directly monitored here.     

Degradation and detoxification of softwood extractives by sapstain fungi

Wood extractives (resin) cause pitch deposition problems and effluent toxicity in pulp and papermaking. The ability of six sapstaining fungi to degrade and detoxify extractive constituents in Scots pine sapwood was examined, and the results were compared with those obtained with the commercial depitching fungus Cartapip (Ophiostoma piliferum). Pestalotiopsis crassiuscula and O. piliferum were the best strains and they provided high reductions of total resin (50–60% in 6 weeks). Both strains were highly effective in the degradation of individual extractive components including triglycerides, diglycerides and free fatty acids. Although all strains displayed moderate to high pitch degradation, their detoxifying capacity was limited. Two important exceptions were Ceratocystis deltoideospora and O. piliferum that caused a 11–14-fold decrease in toxicity (Microtox bioassay). These results indicate the potential of wood pretreatment with the selected sapstain fungi for minimizing pitch problems and decreasing effluent toxicity in pulping.     

Dark septate endophytes – are they mycorrhizal?

Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are a miscellaneous group of ascomycetous anamorphic fungi that colonize root tissues intracellularly and intercellularly. The limited selection of studies quoted here exemplifies the range of host responses to symbiotic DSE fungi. Like mycorrhizal associations, DSE associations vary from negative to neutral and positive when measured by host performance or host tissue nutrient concentrations. This range of host responses is partially attributable to variation between different fungus taxa and strains. Similarly, hosts differ in their responses to a single DSE strain. Experimental conditions may also govern the nature of the symbiotic association. It is concluded that DSE are capable of forming mutualistic associations functionally similar to mycorrhizas. If the variation in host response to mycorrhizal fungi is considered to represent a continuum ranging from parasitism to mutualism, DSE symbiosis must be considered mycorrhizal, at least under some conditions.     

Antagonism between Bacteria and Fungi on Decomposing Aquatic Plant Litter

Bacterial and fungal decomposers of aquatic plant litter may exhibit either synergistic or antagonistic interactions, which are likely to influence microbial growth as well as the decomposition of litter and, eventually, the carbon metabolism of aquatic systems. To elucidate such interactions, we inoculated decomposing Phragmites culms in microcosms with fungal isolates and with natural communities of bacteria and fungi in different combinations. The development of fungal and bacterial biomass and the carbon dynamics were studied during several months of degradation. The results show a bilateral antagonistic relationship between bacteria and fungi. After 3 months, fungal biomass accumulation was approximately 12 times higher in the absence than in the presence of bacteria. Bacterial biomass accumulation was about double in the absence of fungi compared to when fungi were present. Similar interactions developed between a natural assemblage of bacteria and five different fungal strains isolated from Phragmites litter (three identified hyphomycetes and two unidentified strains). Despite the great difference in biomass development between the treatments, the carbon metabolism was similar regardless of whether fungi and/or bacteria were present alone or in coexistence. We suggest that the antagonism between bacteria and fungi is an important controlling factor for microbial colonization and growth on aquatic plant litter.     

蒙古栎根内及根围土壤中共生真菌和细菌群落组成分析

为探究中国东北地区森林根系和根围土壤中共生真菌的分布状况,分析了黑龙江省五大连池市蒙古栎Quercus mongolica纯林中根内及根围土壤中共生真菌和细菌群落的组成。结果表明,根内真菌的1 295个OTUs中有209个OTUs为共生真菌,隶属于36属,相对丰度25.46%;根围土壤真菌1 513个OTUs中有285个OTUs为共生真菌,隶属于40属,相对丰度59.91%;根内与根围土壤共同拥有共生真菌33属,根内特有3属,根围土壤特有7属。其中,外生菌根真菌为根内和根围土壤中共生真菌的主要类群,分别占共生真菌的98.82%和99.80%。定殖根内的细菌共获得5 550个OTUs,隶属于400属;根围土壤细菌获得8 406个OTUs,隶属于436属,根内细菌群落的Shannon指数和Chao1指数均低于根围土壤的。PICRUSt功能预测分析结果表明,根内的信号转导通路与信号分子和相互作用通路（包括CAM配体、ECM-受体相互作用等通路）的丰度低于根围土壤,而膜运输通路与信号分子和相互作用通路（包括细菌毒素、细胞抗原等通路）的丰度高于根围土壤。根内与根围土壤中菌根辅助细菌组成差异分析结果表明,除慢生根瘤菌属 Bradyrhizobium外,根内其余9属的相对丰度均高于根围土壤,尤其假单胞菌属 Pseudomonas的相对丰度远高于根围土壤。     

Condition of Scots pine fine roots and mycorrhiza after fungicide application and low-level ozone exposure in a 2-year field experiment

 In a 2-year experiment at an open-air ozone fumigation field, the effects of fungicide application and low-level ozone exposure, single and combined, on fine root and mycorrhiza condition of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings were studied. Two different fungicides, copper oxychloride and propiconazole, with different modes of actions, were used. Propiconazole treatment reduced mycorrhizal infection in both years while copper oxychloride treatment and ozone exposure slightly stimulated mycorrhizal infection after the first year. Different mycorrhizal morphotypes showed different kinds of responses to the two fungicides. Light brown morphotype appeared to be the most sensitive one to propiconazole treatment. After the second year, ectendomycorrhizas disappeared in propiconazole treatment while in control treatment ectendomycorrhizas formed the majority of the light brown morphotype. The root biomass was not affected by fungicide treatments, but ozone exposure increased the total amount of short roots and the fresh weight of propiconazole treated roots. No significant differences in the concentrations of ergosterol, starch and total phenolics in pine roots between treatments were found. However, ergosterol concentration correlated positively with the mycorrhizal infection level. Both fungicides reduced the soil respiration compared to controls. At the ultrastructural level, both fungicides caused increased transparency and gradual granulation and degeneration of cytoplasm in the fungal symbiont of mycorrhizal short roots. Slightly elevated ozone did not have harmful effects on root ultrastructure. These results suggest that fungicides have deleterious effects on the quantity and quality of mycorrhizas in Scots pine roots and also side-effects on non-target soil fungi. Some of these deleterious effects were noticeable only at the ultrastructural level. Received: 23 June 1997 / Accepted: 11 December 1997     

Stimulation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza by fungicides or rhizosphere bacteria

Stimulation of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi may secure the early establishment of symbiosis and benefit the host plant at an earlier stage of development. The application of Bacillus mycoides resulted in particular in the acceleration of early VA mycorrhiza formation. An increase in vigour of the symbiosis could be measured later in terms of increased sporulation of the mycorrhizal fungi after shoot removal. Natural sporulation during later mycorrhizal development was affected by combination of bacteria and just one mycorrhizal isolate. The stimulation of mycorrhizal development was shown to be non-specific with regard to host plant and the isolate of the VAM fungus. However, the effect could not be achieved in all combinations of soil types and host plants. Application of the systemic fungicides triadimefon and pyrazophos promoted VAM formation. Combinations of fungicide and bacterial treatments were not synergistic.     

Antagonism between bacteria and fungi: substrate competition and a possible tradeoff between fungal growth and tolerance towards bacteria

Bacteria and fungi often share a common substrate, and their spatial proximity in many environments has lead to either synergistic or antagonistic interactions. In this paper, the interaction of bacterial and fungal decomposers from an aquatic environment was studied. We found indications of a tradeoff between fungal growth and tolerance towards bacteria. Fungal strains growing best in absence of bacteria were most severely affected by bacterial presence, while those less suppressed during co-existence with bacteria had lower maximal growth rates in bacterial absence. Additionally, we show that the antagonism between bacteria and fungi is connected to competition for substrate, but that this competition can be drastically altered if fungi are given an opportunity to establish before inoculation of bacteria. Established fungi out-competed bacteria, and gained higher biomass than in simultaneously inoculated treatments with higher substrate concentrations.     

Pisolithus tinctorius promotes germination and forms mycorrhizal structures in Scots pine somatic embryos in vitro

The results of the present study show that inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch potentially enhances the germination of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) somatic embryos in vitro. Stimulation by Pisolithus tinctorius was only observed in the absence of direct contact between the symbionts; mature embryos were not sufficiently robust for balanced interaction with the fungus on half-strength DCR medium. Subsequently, on MMN medium with a reduced sugar concentration, direct contact between somatic embryo-derived plants and the fungus resulted in in vitro formation of mycorrhiza. Ex vitro inoculation also improved adaptation of the somatic embryo-derived plants, even though mycorrhizal structures were not observed. The reactions to Pisolithus tinctorius varied between different Scots pine cell lines both in vitro and ex vitro.     

带叶兜兰种子原地共生萌发及有效菌根真菌的分离与鉴定

为获得带叶兜兰(Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum)种子萌发的共生真菌,采用原地共生萌发技术获得了2株自然萌发的小幼苗,并分离和筛选出了有效的种子萌发共生菌——瘤菌根菌(Epulorhiza sp.)。为验证分离菌株对带叶兜兰种子萌发的有效性,将Phs34号菌株与带叶兜兰种子在灭菌后的原生境基质上进行室内共生萌发试验,结果表明,经过6周的培养,对照组没有观察到种子的萌发;接菌的种子胚明显膨大,突破种皮,形成原球茎,平均萌发率为(58.35±3.41)%。这表明分离得到的瘤菌根菌能促进带叶兜兰的种子萌发。     

硬叶兰种子的迁地共生萌发及有效共生真菌的分离和鉴定

兰科植物的种子原地和迁地共生萌发技术是近年发展起来的开展兰科植物种子和共生真菌研究的有效方法。该研究对兰属(Cymbidium)附生植物硬叶兰(C. mannii)开展了种子的迁地共生萌发研究, 试图获得其种子萌发的有效真菌。利用硬叶兰成年植株根部周围的树皮、苔藓、枯枝落叶、腐殖质等作为培养基质, 进行种子的共生培养。在培养133天后, 成功地获得了处于不同阶段的已萌发种子、原球茎和幼苗, 并从原球茎中分离得到一种瘤菌根菌属(Epulorhiza)真菌。用所分离到的FCb4菌株和一种从兜唇石斛(Dendrobium aphyllum)分离到的胶膜菌属(Tulasnella) FDaI7菌株和硬叶兰种子在燕麦琼脂培养基上进行共生萌发, 设置不接菌作为对照处理, 以检验FCb4菌株对硬叶兰种子萌发的有效性。经过58天的培养, 不接菌的对照处理中种子没有萌发, 接种FCb4和FDaI7菌株的处理都有很高的种子萌发率, 两种接菌处理在不同光照条件下的种子萌发率均无显著性差异。但暗培养条件下, 种子萌发形成原球茎后, 表现出生长停滞的趋势, 仅有很少的原球茎继续生长达到幼苗阶段, 说明原球茎发育后期与幼苗发育阶段需要光照。在光照条件下, 接种FCb4菌株处理中达到幼苗阶段种子的比例为(25.67 ± 9.27)%, 显著高于接种FDaI7菌株处理的(3.04 ± 2.27)% (W = 56, p = 0.026, Mann-Whitney U-test), 表明此研究中分离到的瘤菌根菌属真菌能有效地促使硬叶兰种子萌发并生长发育到幼苗阶段。     

Spermidine and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius synergistically induce maturation of Scots pine embryogenic cultures

Exogenous spermidine (Spd) and the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch had a synergistic effect on the maturation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) somatic embryos. Induced maturation was expressed as a higher number of cell masses able to form embryos and a greater number of embryos formed per cell mass. In contrast, treatment with P. tinctorius alone on the hormone-free medium resulted in the lowest embryo-forming capacity. Retarded proliferation growth appeared to be required for maturation, but did not explain the synergistic effect of the fungus and exogenous Spd. Simultaneous treatment did not result in lower concentrations of putrescine (Put), Spd or spermine (Spm) in the embryogenic cell masses relative to the separate treatments. Our study is the first report on the use of a specific ECM fungus to induce maturation of somatic embryos, and it indicates that P. tinctorius was able to modify the maturation media in a way that, together with exogenous Spd, positively affected embryogenic cultures of Scots pine. Our study also shows that it is possible to enhance plant development other than root formation by using specific ECM fungi.