Is the Survivability of Silver Fir under Condition of Strong Ungulate Pressure Related to Mycobiota of Bark-Stripping Wounds?

Abstract

The aim of the research was to check whether the healing of bark-stripping wounds of the silver fir tree trunks reduces the share of wood-decomposing fungi, which may be the result of inter-species interactions. The study carried out in Gorce National Park in Polish Western Carpathians analyzed drill holes of sapwood from three types of wounds (fresh, healed and old) on fir trunks with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 4.0–16.9 cm as a result of bark-stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus). In the wood of fresh wounds Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. and Arthrinium arundinis (Corda) Dyko & B. Sutton had the largest share in mycobiota. Phompsis spp. and the species Sydowia polyspora (Bref. & Tavel) E. Müll. and Epicoccum nigrum Link were also isolated. The dominants in old wounds were Eutypa spp., Phomopsis spp. and Cylindrobasidium evolvens (Fr.) Jülich. Healed wounds were dominated by Trichoderma atroviride P. Karst, a fungus antagonistic to many fungal pathogens. Such properties are shared by A. arundinis, especially common in fresh wound wood. It seems that these fungi support the process of wounded tree regeneration (healing of wounds) and limit the activity of wood-decaying fungi in old age, which makes fir survival very high. Thus, even a strong red deer pressure cannot be considered the basic factor determining the dynamics of fir in this part of the Carpathians.

Alteration of Symbiotic Microbiome Following the Decline of Korean Fir (Abies Koreana) and Its Relationship with Soil Environment in Regions of Mt. Hallasan, Jeju Island, the Republic of Korea

“…DKF also had reduced CEC, K + , and Na + exchangeable cations, which have low adsorption strength to soil particles. A previous study had emphasized that ECM fungi can increase CEC, K + , and Na + exchangeable cations in soil [40], which aligns with our ndings that symbiotic fungi strongly correlate with soil nutrients (Fig. 5).…”

“…The high abundance of saprotrophs, such as Ascocoryne, Umbelopsis, and Hypochnicium, in the DKF group supports the fact that saprotrophs are found at very low abundance in actively growing plant roots [38], and they mainly feed on nonliving organic matter, such as dead plant roots [39]. Trichoderma spp., a key genus specializing in the breakdown of complex compounds, such as lignin and cellulose [40], which commonly arise after plant death [20], were likewise abundant in DKF soil. Collectively, these ndings indicate a reduction in the abundance of symbiotic fungi in the rhizosphere of the declined tree population and an increase in saprotrophic fungi.…”

Fungal Presence and Changes of Wood Structure in Bark Stripping Wounds Made by Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on Stems of Fraxinus angustifolia (Vahl)

“…Fungi of the genus Eutypa are quite abundant in silver fir trees (Abies alba Mill.) damaged by bark stripping, although mostly in older wounds [65]. While these pathogens were relatively abundant regarding the number of isolates obtained in this study, each occurred in only one sampled stem.…”

The death of Korean fir (Abies koreana) affects soil symbiotic fungal microbiome: Preliminary findings

“…These finding also supports the fact that saprotrophs are present in extremely low abundance in actively growing plant roots (Kutiel and Shaviv, 1992), and they mainly feed on non-living organic matter, such as dead plant roots (Promputtha et al, 2007). Trichoderma spp., a critical genus specializing in the breakdown of complex compounds, such as lignin and cellulose (Pusz et al, 2021), commonly arising after plant death (Williams and de Vries, 2020), were likewise abundant in DKF soil. These findings indicate a reduction in the abundance of symbiotic fungi in the rhizosphere of the dead tree and an increase in saprotrophic fungi.…”