Background
Ectomycorrhizal (ECM and ECM-like) structures associated with plant root systems are a challenge for scientists. The dispersion pattern of roots within the soil profile and the nutritional conditions are both favourable factors to motivate the plants to make ECM associations.
Results
This study discusses the colonization of mycorrhizal associations in
Kobresia
and
Polygonum
species including
Polygonum viviparum
,
Kobresia filicina
,
K. myosuroides
,
Alnus nitida
,
Betula pendula
,
Pinus sylvestris
, and
Trifolium repens
grown naturally in cold stressed soils of Gilgit-Baltistan (high-altitude alpine Deosai plains), Hazara, Swat, Dir, and Bajaur. Sieved soil batches were exposed to +5 °C (control), -10, -20, -30, -40, -50, -125 °C for 5 h, and selected plants were sown to these soils for 10 weeks under favourable conditions for ECM colonization. Ectomycorrhizal associations were examined in the above mentioned plants. Some ECM fungi have dark mycelia that look like the mantle and Hartig net. Examples of these are
Kobresia filicina
,
K. myosuroides
, and
Polygonum viviparum
. Findings of this study revealed that
K. myosuroides
excelled in ECM root tip length, dry mass, and NH
4
concentration at -125 °C. Contrarily,
A. nitida
demonstrated the lower values, indicated its minimum tolerance. Notably,
T. repens
boasted the highest nitrogen concentration (18.7 ± 1.31 mg/g), while
P. sylvestris
led in phosphorus (3.2 ± 0.22 mg/g). The
B. pendula
showed the highest potassium concentration (9.4 ± 0.66 mg/g), emphasising species-specific nutrient uptake capabilities in extreme cold conditions. The PCA analysis revealed that the parameters, e.g., NH
4
in soil mix (NH
4
), NO
3
in soil mix (NO
3
), phosphorus in soil in species of
Polygonum viviparum
,
Kobresia filicina
,
K. myosuroides
,
Alnus nitida
,
Betula pendula
,
Pinus sylvestris
, and
Trifolium repens
are most accurately represented in cases of + 5 °C, -10 °C, and -20 °C temperatures. On the other hand, the parameters for ECM root tips (ECM) and Dry Mass (DM) are best described in -40 °C, -50 °C, and − 125 °C temperatures. All parameters have a strong influence on the variability of the system indicated the efficiency of ECM. The heatmap supp...
