Interactions of fungi with other organisms

Abstract

Living organisms establish complex networks of mutualistic and antagonistic interactions in nature, which impact strongly on their own survival and on the stability of the whole population. Fungi, in particular, can shape natural as well as manmanaged ecosystems due to their ubiquitous occurrence and the range of interactions they establish with plants, animals and other microbes. This review describes some examples of mutualistic and antagonistic fungal interactions that are of particular interest for their ecological role, or because they can be exploited by man to improve plant health and/or productivity in sustainable agriculture and forestry.

The lime–silicate question

“…They belong to the monophyletic lineage of the Glomeromycota which is totally unrelated to all other fungi (Schüßler et al, 2001). Some 200e300 AMF species have been described based on spore morphology (Helgason et al, 2007;Perotto et al, 2013). Modern sequencing technologies with DNA isolated both from roots and extraradical hyphae indicate that considerably more species might occur, particularly in roots than the 200e300 morphotypes (Helgason et al, 2007;Wilde et al, 2009;Buscot, 2015).…”

“…Special symbioses are formed between fungi and orchids or members of the heather family (Leake et al, 1990;Straker, 1996;Perotto et al, 2013), but these symbioses have received less attention so far in ecological considerations than other plantemycorrhizal interactions.…”

Isolation and Identification of Allelochemicals from Ascocarp of Tuber Species

“…Their environmental requirements are different, from those species that are capable of utilising nutrients in various substrates to species with very specifi c habitat needs (Angelini et al , 2014a(Angelini et al , 2016Pagiotti et al 2011 ;Picco et al 2011 ;Perotto et al 2013 ). Fungi are a rich source of secondary metabolites and natural products.…”

Ecology and diversity ofCortinariusspecies (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) associated withQuercus ilexL. in the Mediterranean area of Liguria (North-western Italy)

“…From an ecological viewpoint, it is commonly known that ectomycorrhizal fungi can potentially reveal the negative impact of human activities (Perotto et al 2013). Thus, it is recommended to continuously survey these fungi in order to check ecosystems health (Tedersoo et al 2010;Tó th & Barta 2010).…”