Broad‐leaved forest types affect soil fungal community structure and soil organic carbon contents

Abstract

Evergreen broad‐leaved (EBF) and deciduous broad‐leaved (DBF) forests are two important vegetation types in terrestrial ecosystems that play key roles in sustainable biodiversity and global carbon (C) cycling. However, little is known about their associated soil fungal community and the potential metabolic activities involved in biogeochemical processes. In this study, soil samples were collected from EBF and DBF in Shennongjia Mountain, China, and soil fungal community structure and functional gene diversity analyzed based on combined Illumina MiSeq sequencing with GeoChip technologies. The results showed that soil fungal species richness (p = 0.079) and fungal functional gene diversity (p < 0.01) were higher in DBF than EBF. Zygomycota was the most dominant phylum in both broad‐leaved forests, and the most dominant genera found in each forest varied (Umbelopsis dominated in DBF, whereas Mortierella dominated in EBF). A total of 4, 439 soil fungi associated functional gene probes involved in C and nitrogen (N) cycling were detected. Interestingly, the relative abundance of functional genes related to labile C degradation (e.g., starch, pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in DBF than EBF, and the functional gene relative abundance involved in C cycling was significantly negatively correlated with soil labile organic C (r = −0.720, p = 0.002). In conclusion, the soil fungal community structure and potential metabolic activity showed marked divergence in different broad‐leaved forest types, and the higher relative abundance of functional genes involved in C cycling in DBF may be caused by release of loss of organic C in the soil.

Soil fungal and bacterial communities in southern boreal forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains and their relationship with soil properties

“…In short, the present study demonstrates difference in soil microbial communities and soil properties between southern boreal forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains, China. It is consistent with the earlier findings 36,37 , and provide new evidence for the effects of tree species on soil communities and soil properties in southern boreal forest. The previous study documented that tree species showed a positive effect on soil C and N stocks in an Iranian temperate forest 38 .…”

“…It has been also reported that soil bacterial community structure and function in German temperate deciduous forests were governed by the tree species 40 . Soil fungal communities also varied between Chinese subtropical evergreen and deciduous forests 37 . Those previous studies have confirmed that tree species contribute to differences in soil microbial communities and soil properties 41 .…”

Metabolic Potential, Ecology and Presence of Associated Bacteria Is Reflected in Genomic Diversity of Mucoromycotina

“…The representatives of this genus are well-known late wood colonizers, that probably feed on the substrates which were decomposed by other organisms able to degrade complex substrates like cellulose ( Richardson, 2009 ). However, Umbelopsis representatives are also often isolated from living plant material or forest soil ( Sheng et al, 2019 ) and are considered to be plant growth-promoting organisms and root endophytes ( Tejesvi et al, 2013 ; Huang et al, 2015 ). They can alter plant metabolism leading to the enhanced production of complex metabolites which are not produced without the endophyte ( Qin et al, 2018 ).…”

Metabolic potential, ecology and presence of endohyphal bacteria is reflected in genomic diversity of Mucoromycotina

“…The representatives of this genus are well-known late wood colonisers, that probably feed on the substrates which were decomposed by other organisms able to degrade complex substrates like cellulose [95]. However, Umbelopsis representatives are also often isolated from living plant material or forest soil [96] and are considered to be plant growth-promoting organisms and root endophytes [97,98]. They can alter plant metabolism leading to the enhanced production of complex metabolites which are not produced without the endophyte [99].…”