A rediscovered treasure: mycorrhizal intensity database for 3000 vascular plant species across the former Soviet Union

Abstract

The symbiosis between vascular plants and mycorrhizal fungi is paramount for carbon and nutrient cycling in most of the world's ecosystems. Most vascular plant species are associated with mycorrhizal fungal partners, and the association is essential for the carbon and nutrition economies of both partners. However, despite its clear importance, data on this symbiosis are lacking: for most vascular plant species, mycorrhizal type is unknown. Very rarely is there data on the levels of mycorrhizal infection intensity in multiple habitats.We translated and digitized a huge data set on vascular plant mycorrhizal intensity throughout the former Soviet Union, previously available only as a hard copy appendix of the doctoral thesis of Ivan A. Selivanov published in Russian in 1976 and not accessible to the international research community. We updated the taxonomic plant nomenclature to the International Plant Name Index and adjusted mycorrhizal and ecological terminology according to the modern international literature.The database contains 7445 records on mycorrhizal infection type and intensity of 2970 plant species from 155 families, in 154 sites, situated across the former Soviet Union (mostly on the territory of the current Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan), comprising together extensive geological, topographic, and climatic gradients. The data set includes percentage infection for each species-site combination for arbuscular, ericoid, arbutoid, endomycorrhizal, dark septate, orchid-and ecto-mycorrhizal fungi. Each record has a detailed description of geography. For many records, soils and host plant community are described. Most of the sites are natural; 10 sites are situated in botanical gardens. For 1291 species the intensity of mycorrhizal infection is quantified in multiple plant communities (2-57). The remaining species are described at single sites.Selivanov developed his own methods for quantifying mycorrhizal infection intensity. These methods are comparable, but not identical to, the methodology commonly used today. Based on our own sampling of 99 plant species collected in two distant sites (Caucasus [Russia] and Abisko [Sweden]), we provide a simple equation for data conversion between the two methods.The availability of this database will help to provide answers to important questions concerning biogeochemical cycling, climate change impacts, and co-evolution of plants and fungi.

Arum-type of arbuscular mycorrhizae, dark septate endophytes and Olpidium spp. in fine roots of container-grown seedlings of Sorbus torminalis (Rosaceae)

“…2 Arbuscular mycorrhization (AM) and fungal root endophyte associations of two-year-old container-grown S. torminalis seedlings (three single-tree progenies labeled as KH6, KH10, and KH11) from the forest experimental garden and nursery "Knödel-hütte" in Vienna (Austria). The supposed association of S. torminalis with ECM [14,16,17,20] is in clear contrast to our investigations and those of others [18,19], in which wild service tree was found to be associated with AM fungi. Harley and Harley [16] listed the majority of known mycorrhizal associations of plants of the British flora, and in recent reviews new information was added [14,20].…”

“…Moreover, it represents the first report of Olpidium species and confirmed the presence of dark septate endopyhtes in S. torminalis roots. Based on our results and that of previous studies carried out in Iran and Spain [18,19] and based on the sparse and partly incorrect reports of ECM associations with wild service tree [14,16,17,20], we propose to regard S. torminalis primarily as arbuscular mycorrhizal plant species. However, it should be clarified in future investigations whether this tree species can additionally also form ECM, particularly in natural environments in its temperate distribution range in Central Europe.…”

“…Whitebeam (Sorbus aria Crantz) and mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) form AM or ECM, or remain nonmycorrhizal (NM) [14]. A few studies reported that S. torminalis forms ectomycorrhizae [14,16,17]; however, it was not documented which ECM species were involved in this symbiosis. In contrast, according to recent investigations [18,19] and a recent review [20] wild service tree has primarily AM, but also ECM.…”

“…Another description of the mycorrhizal status of S. torminalis was provided by Akhmetzhanova et al [17], who translated, modernized and converted the doctoral thesis of Selivanov (1976; not seen), previously only available as a printed version in Russian, into digital form. This study covered the period from 1957 to 1975 and resulted in an extensive database (7445 individual plant specimens of 2970 plant species) with types and degree of mycorrhization of plants from the former Soviet Union (USSR).…”

“…This study covered the period from 1957 to 1975 and resulted in an extensive database (7445 individual plant specimens of 2970 plant species) with types and degree of mycorrhization of plants from the former Soviet Union (USSR). However, in the entire database, only one specimen of wild service tree was included, based on which this tree species was assigned to be associated with ECM (Akhmetzhanova et al [17], following Selivanov, 1976). Based on one specimen, it is virtually impossible to clearly characterize the type of mycorrhization.…”