Germination and infectivity of ectomycorrhizal fungal spores in relation to their ecological traits during primary succession

Abstract

Summary• The spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) play critical roles in the population and community development of EMF. Here, the germination and infectivity of EMF spores are examined with reference to the ecological traits of the EMF species.• Spores were collected from 12 EMF species, whose successional patterns have been studied in the volcanic desert on Mount Fuji, Japan. Spore germination experiments were conducted with host plants (Salix reinii), with nonhost plants (Polygonum cuspidatum), and without plants. The mycorrhizal formation ability of spores was also examined in seven EMF using spore inoculation experiments. To determine the effects of the spore preservation period, both experiments were repeated up to 1 yr after spore collection.• Spore germination was very low in the absence of host plants. In the presence of hosts, even 30 d after spore collection, spore germination was significantly enhanced in all pioneer EMF (c. 20%) but less so in late-stage EMF (< 5%), except in Hebeloma species. Mycorrhizal formation from spores was also greater in pioneer EMF but was significantly reduced by 1 yr of spore preservation.• High spore germination and infectivity of pioneer EMF should enable these species to colonize disturbed and isolated areas in accordance with their ecological traits.

Soil propagule banks of ectomycorrhizal fungi share many common species along an elevation gradient

“…Population genetic studies have suggested that latestage EM fungi frequently reproduce via spores (Redecker et al 2001;Carriconde et al 2008), although these spores may be short-lived (Ishida et al 2008) or require specific conditions to germinate, such as the presence of microorganisms (Ali and Jackson 1989), mycelia of the same species (Fries 1987;Miller et al 1993), or older roots (Theodorou and Bowen 1987). Interspecific competition among fungal species (Kennedy and Bruns 2005) may also limit our ability to detect existing fungal spores.…”

Structure, Gene Flow, and Recombination among Geographic Populations of a Russula virescens Ally from Southwestern China

“…The ectomycorrhizal mushroom Tricholoma matsutake from southwestern China also showed limited (though statistically significant) genetic differentiation. The limited genetic differentiation between geographic populations in R. virescens could be due to several factors including natural long-distance dispersal of basidiospores [33] and human-aided dispersal through mushroom trading that could mix spores from distant populations. Unlike in the matsutake mushroom where fruiting bodies just before their caps open command significantly higher prices than those with open caps, there is relatively limited price difference between immature and mature Qingtoujun.…”

Availability of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi to Black Spruce above the Present Treeline in Eastern Labrador

“…These are common pioneer fungi, with broad host ranges, high germination rates and the ability to quickly form ECM [71]–[73]. These two fungi therefore appear to be important components of the alpine ECMF spore bank, able to efficiently colonize the roots of establishing plants.…”