Niche differentiation of Mucoromycotinian and Glomeromycotinian arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi along a 2-million-year soil chronosequence

Abstract

Current literature suggests ecological niche differentiation between co-occurring Mucoromycotinian arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (M-AMF) and Glomeromycotinian AMF (G-AMF), but experimental evidence is limited. We investigated the influence of soil age, water availability (wet and dry), and plant species (native Microlaena stipoides and exotic Trifolium subterraneum) on anatomical root colonisation and DNA profiles of M-AMF and G-AMF under glasshouse conditions. We grew seedlings of each species in soils collected from the four stages of a soil chronosequence, where pH decreases from the youngest to oldest stages, and phosphorus (P) is low in the youngest and oldest, but high in the intermediate stages. We scored the percentage of root length colonised and used DNA metabarcoding to profile fungal richness and community composition associated with treatment combinations. Soil age, water availability, and plant species were important influencers of root colonisation, although no M-AMF were visible following staining of M. stipoides roots. Soil age and host plant influenced fungal richness and community composition. However, response to soil age, potential host species, and water availability differed between M-AMF and G-AMF. Root colonisation of T. subterraneum by M-AMF and G-AMF was inversely correlated with soil P level. Community composition of M-AMF and G-AMF was structured by soil age and, to a lesser extent, plant species. Richness of M-AMF and G-AMF was negatively, and positively, correlated with available P, respectively. These findings are experimental evidence of ecological niche differentiation of M-AMF and G-AMF and invite further exploration into interactive effects of abiotic and biotic factors on their communities along successional trajectories.

Common soil history is more important than plant history for arbuscular mycorrhizal community assembly in an experimental grassland diversity gradient

“…Lower evenness in the newly established grassland split plots could be the result of soil disturbance and new plants having increased nutrient needs for initial growth of the plant communities (Jasper, Abbott and Robson, 1991; Hart and Reader, 2004; Trejo, Barois and Sangabriel-Conde, 2016; Vogel et al ., 2019). AMF community structures are shaped not only by plant diversity, but by dynamic abiotic and biotic factors (Ji and Bever, 2016; He et al ., 2023; Mansfield et al ., 2023) which counteract domination of few AMF and lead to more even AMF community composition over time. We conclude that AMF diversity is governed by multiple factors, as AMF communities are subject to plant diversity driving AMF richness while community age drives AMF evenness.…”

In vivo femtosecond laser nanosurgery of the cell wall enabling patch-clamp measurements on filamentous fungi

“…Phycomyces blakesleeanus, the filamentous fungal model system used in this work, is a member of the order Mucorales (representative of the phylum Mucoromycota); members of this order form mycorrhizal symbiotic relationships with plants 60 , while other members are serious human pathogens 61 whose prevalence is increasing 62,63 . The recently published WHO recommendation 64 identifies Mucorales as a high-priority group for monitoring, researching, and developing new drug targets.…”

Fungal symbiont diversity drives growth of Holcus lanatus depending on soil nutrient availability

“…Associations with MFRE that have saprotrophic capabilities could offer host plants enhanced access to organic soil N sources beyond that afforded by associations with AM fungi alone (Field et al, 2019;Howard et al, 2022). Given recent reports that these two groups of fungi proliferate under different edaphic conditions (Albornoz et al, 2021(Albornoz et al, , 2022Mansfield et al, 2023), it is important that we learn more about their respective and combined roles in plant N acquisition as this will allow us to better predict how land management may affect plant community reliance on fungal acquired N in both managed and natural habitats. Agricultural run-off mitigation (Juncal et al, 2023) and crushed silicate rock applications to land for improved carbon sequestration (e.g., Kantzas et al, 2022) are two land management strategies that likely have environmental effects beyond those intended.…”