The communities of ectomycorrhizal fungal species associated with Betula pendula Roth and Pinus sylvestris L. growing in heavy-metal contaminated soils

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 457; no. 1-2; pp. 321 - 338
• Main Authors: Bierza, Wojciech, Bierza, Karolina, Trzebny, Artur, Greń, Izabela, Dabert, Miroslawa, Ciepał, Ryszard, Trocha, Lidia K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-12-2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Betula pendula; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Ecological succession; Ecology; Ectomycorrhizas; Electromagnetic fields; Ergosterol; Fungi; Gene sequencing; Growth; Heavy metals; Life Sciences; Low frequency; Pine trees; Pinus sylvestris; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Regular Article; Roots; Roots (Botany); Scleroderma; Scots pine; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Soil properties; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Species; Symbiosis; Toxicity; Trees; Poland; Next generation sequencing (NGS); Ectomycorrhiza; Scots pine; Heavy metal pollution; Pioneer tree species; Silver birch
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-020-04737-4

Aims
Pioneer tree species such as
Betula pendula
and
Pinus sylvestris
encroach soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). This is facilitated by ectomycorrhizal fungi colonizing tree roots. Thus, we evaluated the ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities of
B. pendula
and
P. sylvestris
growing in HM-contaminated soils compared to non-contaminated soils. We also studied the effect of HMs and soil properties on EMF communities and soil fungal biomass.
Methods
Roots of
B. pendula
and
P. sylvestris
were collected from three HM-contaminated sites and from two non-contaminated sites located in Poland. EMF species were identified using DNA barcoding. Soil fungal biomass was determined by soil ergosterol.
Results
B. pendula
and
P. sylvestris
growing in HM-contaminated soils had similar EMF communities, where
Scleroderma
,
Rhizopogon
and
Russula
as well as ectomycorrhizae of the long-distance exploration type dominated. Among all of the examined soil factors studied, toxicity index (TI
Total
) was the most significant factor shaping the composition of EMF communities. Despite significant differences in the structure of the EMF communities of trees growing in HM-contaminated sites compared to control sites, no differences in overall diversity were observed.
Conclusions
Only well-adapted EMF species can survive toxic conditions and form ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with encroaching trees facilitating the forest succession on contaminated soils.