Atmospheric pollution, soil nutrients and climate effects on Mucoromycota arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Fine root endophyte mycorrhizal fungi in the Endogonales (Mucoromycota arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, M-AMF) are now recognized as at least as important globally as Glomeromycota AMF (G-AMF), yet little is known about the environmental factors which influence M-AMF diversity and colonization, partly because they typically only co-colonize plants with G-AMF. Wild populations of Lycopodiella inundata predominantly form mycorrhizas with M-AMF and therefore allow focussed study of M-AMF environmental drivers. Using microscopic examination and DNA sequencing we measured M-AMF colonization and diversity over three consecutive seasons and modelled interactions between these response variables and environmental data. Significant relationships were found between M-AMF colonization and soil S, P, C:N ratio, electrical conductivity, and the previously overlooked micronutrient Mn. Estimated N deposition was negatively related to M-AMF colonization. Thirty-nine Endogonales Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were identified in L. inundata roots, a greater diversity than previously recognized in this plant. Endogonales OTU richness correlated negatively with soil C:N while community composition was mostly influenced by soil P. This study provides first evidence that M-AMF have distinct ecological preferences in response to edaphic variables also related to air pollution. Future studies require site-level atmospheric pollution monitoring to guide critical load policy for mycorrhizal fungi in heathlands and grasslands.
Date Issued
2022-08
Date Acceptance
2022-05-05
Citation
Environmental Microbiology, 2022, 24 (8), pp.3390-3404
ISSN
1462-2912
Publisher
Society for Applied Microbiology
Start Page
3390
End Page
3404
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Microbiology
Volume
24
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Environmental Microbiology published by Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
License URL
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000803749000001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
NE/N009665/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Microbiology
NITROGEN DEPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
PLANTS
FERTILIZATION
COMMUNITIES
RESPONSES
HEATHLAND
CONSEQUENCES
ENDOPHYTES
PHOSPHORUS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-05-31