Diversity of the ectomycorrhiza community at a uranium mining heap

Ectomycorrhiza (EM) community structure was analyzed at one bare heap site (BHS), one heap site with organic cover (HS-OH) and one reference site (RS) in the former uranium mining area near Ronneburg (Thuringia, Germany). Twenty-three EM morphotypes were distinguished, and 14 of them were additionally characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis. Colonization of birch by the different morphotypes was quantified, and the EM diversity at the different sites was investigated. Compared to RS, total EM colonization was reduced by 6% (P=0.851) at HS-OH and by 58% (P<0.001) at BHS. Likewise, EM diversity was reduced by 16% (P=0.229) at HS-OH and 52% (P<0.001) at BHS. The Sørensen similarity between EM samples from RS was nearly independent from the sampling date, whereas at HS-OH and especially BHS, the Sørensen similarity decreased with increasing time between the samplings. All EM fungal species dominating at the two heap sites were also present at RS. Thus, fungi with high tolerance against uranium and other stress factors at the heap sites (e.g. heavy metals, nutrient limitation, drought) were selected among all EM fungi of the area. Highly adapted fungi with a distribution restricted to the contaminated soils were not detected.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at .     

Root colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal, fine endophytic and dark septate fungi across a pH gradient in acid beech forests

Colonisation by root endophytes can be beneficial to plants growing on acid, nutrient-poor soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can supply herbs with nutrients and may give protection against aluminium toxicity. Two other root colonising fungi, fine endophytes (FE) and dark septate fungi (DSE), are less well known but are potentially of benefit to their host plant. AM fungi are the most prevalent symbionts in herbs at neutral to acidic soil pH. At extremely low pH, fungal growth can be limited and AM colonisation is usually rare. Fine and dark septate endophytes, on the other hand, have been observed more often under these conditions. In order to relate endophyte colonisation to a gradient in soil pH, we investigated root colonisation by AM, FE and DSE in Maianthemum bifolium, Galium odoratum, Mercurialis perennis and Stellaria nemorum, from a range of acidic beech forests. With decreasing pH, colonisation by AM decreased, whereas the other two endophytes increased. AM and FE colonisation were inversely correlated in Maianthemum bifolium. We compared changes in root colonisation with those in chemical composition of soil and leaf samples and found a positive correlation between leaf magnesium concentrations and the presence of DSE in Galium odoratum. Aluminium concentration in Maianthemum bifolium tended to be lower when FE colonisation was high, suggesting a possible role for the fungi in plant protection against Al. We suggest that FE and DSE may replace AM fungi in herbaceous vegetation at extremely low pH, counteracting some of the negative effects of high soil acidity on plants.     

Induction of saprophytic behavior in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus granulatus by litter addition in a Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) stand in Yellowstone

In a previous study, we demonstrated that Suillus granulatus exhibits positive growth responses to added litter. From this, we hypothesized that this positive growth response (increased number of EM root tips) would be accompanied by increased activities of enzymes that enable EM fungi to utilize litter as a nutrient source. We tested this hypothesis by adding sterile litter in replicate treatment/control blocks, and assaying cellulase, laccase and phosphatase activities in the dominant fungal species, S. granulatus. We used healthy, growing EM roots for both treatment and control assays. Activities of all enzymes increased significantly in response to litter addition (P < 0.05 laccase; P < 0.01 cellulase; P < 0.001 phosphatase). Hence, litter accumulation apparently causes functional as well as structural changes to the EM fungal community that would significantly affect carbon cycling in forest ecosystems.     

Land use influences soil fungal community composition across central Victoria,south-eastern Australia

Current theory expects that fungi, on the one hand, are spatially ubiquitous but, on the other, are more susceptible than bacteria to disturbance such as land use change due to dispersal limitations. This study examined the relative importance of location and land use effects in determining soil fungal community composition in south-eastern Australia. We use terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP; primer pair ITS1-F–ITS4) and multivariate statistical methods (NMDS ordinations, ANOSIM tests) to compare relative similarities of soil fungal communities from nine sites encompassing three locations (ca 50–200 km apart) and four land uses (native eucalypt forest, Pinus radiata plantation, Eucalyptus globulus plantation, and unimproved pasture). Location effects were generally weak (e.g. ANOSIM test statistic R ≤ 0.49) and were, in part, attributed to minor differences in soil texture. By contrast, we found clear and consistent evidence of land use effects on soil fungal community composition (R ≤ 0.95). That is, soils from sites of the same land use grouped together in NMDS ordinations of fungal composition despite geographic separations of up to ca 175 km (native eucalypt forests) and 215 km (P. radiata plantations). In addition, different land uses from the same location were clearly separate in NMDS ordinations, despite, in one case, being just 180 m apart and having similar land use histories (i.e. P. radiata versus E. globulus plantation both established on pasture in the previous decade). Given negligible management of all sites beyond the early establishment phase, we attribute much of the land use effects to changes in dominant plant species based on consistent evidence elsewhere of strong specificity in pine and eucalypt mycorrhizal associations. In addition, weak to moderate correlations between soil fungal community composition and soil chemical variables (e.g. Spearman rank correlation coefficients for individual variables of 0.08–0.32), indicated a minor contributing role of vegetation-mediated changes in litter and soil chemistry. Our data provide evidence of considerable plasticity in soil fungal community composition over time spans as short as 6–11 years. This suggests that – at least within geographic zones characterised by more-or-less contiguous forest cover – soil fungal community composition depends most on availability of suitable habitat because dispersal propagules are readily available for colonisation after land use change.     

Interference competition in a threatened seabird community: A paradox for a successful conservation

It is often assumed that conservation actions targeting a threatened community (e.g. habitat protection) will result in similar benefits for all species. However, complex interactions between species, such as interference competition, may result in displacement of subordinate, vulnerable species. We analysed here the spatio-temporal population dynamics of a threatened seabird community since the protection in the 1980s of several breeding sites at the Ebro Delta, western Mediterranean, Spain during 1980-2007. Competition for the most suitable patches was governed by body size, with smaller species avoiding associations with larger, dominant species. We tested whether the density increase of the larger species (yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis and Audouin’s gull Larus audouinii) at La Banya (the highest quality patch within the Delta) affected species diversity at the local level. As expected, such diversity decreased, resulting also from the colonisation of other sites by smaller species, some abandoning the former area. The conservation paradox appeared because the interference competition was dominated not only by the largest species of the community, the yellow-legged gull, which is sometimes considered a pest species, but also by the vulnerable Audouin’s gull, a flagship species which has ca. 65% of the total world population at La Banya. Nevertheless, the availability of alternative patches within the Ebro Delta ensured a high biodiversity at regional scale. Results highlight the role of turnover of competing species within a community in ecosystem function and stability, and the importance of alternative sites and dispersal abilities for the conservation of vulnerable communities.     

Mycorrhizal communities in relation to biomass production and nutrient use efficiency in two varieties of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii and var. glauca) in different forest soils

To investigate the role of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizas for growth and nutrition, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), a species capable of establishing both types of symbioses, was used. Seedlings of two varieties of Douglas fir, var. menziesii (DFM) and var. glauca (DFG), differing in biomass production under non-mycorrhizal conditions, were planted in two soils of different nutrient status without preceding Douglas fir cultivation. After 2 years, the abundance of ectomycorrhizas was significantly higher on DFM than on DFG roots and higher in nutrient rich than in poor soil. Independent of the abundance of ectomycorrhiza colonization, roots of both Douglas fir varieties contained in most cases a minimum of six to nine different fungal species identified by ITS sequencing, which displayed both soil- and seed origin-specific patterns. Rhizopogon vinicolor was associated with DFM, whereas Cadophora finlandia, Sebacinaceous sp., Tricholoma sp. and a Tuber sp. were more frequently found on DFG roots. Ectendomycorrhizas were also identified and included under ectomycorrhiza for determination of nutrient relations. Net primary productivity and nitrogen-use efficiency were positively correlated with the degree of ectomycorrhiza colonization of Douglas fir seedlings suggesting that nitrogen accumulation did not keep pace with biomass production despite increased ectomycorrhizal colonization. Phosphorus-use efficiency was negatively correlated with the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizas, suggesting higher efficiency of these fungi than of ectomycorrhizas for phosphorus supply to the host. DFM, which had higher inherited growth capacities than DFG, displayed higher ectomycorrhizal colonization than DFG. In our experimental design the physiology of the host tree and soil properties, but not the diversity of fungi present on roots, were decisive factors for formation and abundance of ectomycorrhiza.     

Mycorrhizal community structure,microbial biomass P and phosphatase activities under Salix polaris as influenced by nutrient availability

Low supply of the nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limit plant growth and spreading, and increase the plant-microbial nutrient competition in subarctic and arctic regions. We investigated the mycorrhizal community structure of a polar shrub willow (Salix polaris) and the microbial turnover in its rhizosphere to explore the adaptation of a mycorrhizal plant in the subarctic tundra. The ectomycorrhizal colonisation ranged from 35 to 64% of the fine root tips and decreased with an increasing soil C/N ratio. In total, 16 ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were found under S. polaris (eight to 13 morphotypes per site, five morphotypes at all four sites). Cenococcum sp. was the most common EM fungus (32% of the ectomycorrhizal fine roots). The abundance of Cenococcum sp. increased with an increasing organic matter content and N/P ratio in the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation of S. polaris was absent or less than 1% of the fine root length. Microbial biomass P accounted for 21–75% of the organic soil P and 6–49% of the total soil P. Microbial biomass P, alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in the rhizosphere increased with increasing soil N concentration. We conclude that a higher N supply decreases the diversity in the mycorrhizal community on polar willows and increases the role of P turnover from the soil microbial biomass for the nutrient supply.     

Ectomycorrhizal and Saprotrophic Fungal Communities Vary Across mm-Scale Soil Microsites Differing in Phosphatase Activity

To understand nutrient cycling in soils, soil processes and microorganisms need be better characterized. To determine whether specific trophic groups of fungi are associated with soil enzyme activity, we used soil imprinting to guide mm-scale sampling from microsites with high and low phosphatase activities in birch/Douglas-fir stands. Study 1 involved sampling one root window per site at 12 sites of different ages (stands); study 2 was conducted at one of the stem-exclusion stands, at which 5 root windows had been installed. Total fungal and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) fingerprints differed between high-and low-phosphatase activity microsites at 8 of 12 root windows across 12 sites. Where differences were detected, fewer EM fungi were detected in high-than low-phosphatase activity microsites. Using 5 root windows at one site, next-generation sequencing detected similar fungal communities across microsites, but the ratio of saprotrophic to EM fungal reads was higher in high-phosphatase activity microsites in the two windows that had low EM fungal richness. In windows with differences in fungal communities, both studies indicated that EM fungi were less successful than saprotrophic fungi in colonizing fine-scale, organic matter-rich microsites. Fine-scale sampling linked with in situ detection of enzyme activity revealed relationships between soil fungal communities and phosphatase activity that could not be observed at the scales employed by conventional approaches, thereby contributing to the understanding of fine-scale phosphorus cycling in forest soils.     

Preferential spread of the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani through structured soil

Most studies on soil fungi have been carried out with little explicit characterisation of soil structure within which fungi spread and biotic interactions occur. In this paper we use a combination of epidemiological (colonisation efficiency) and soil bio-physical (thin sectioning) techniques to investigate the role of macropores in soil on the spread of a fungal colony. Macropores, in the form of gaps orientated in various directions, were artificially introduced in replicated samples of sand and a sandy loam. The pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani AG4 was introduced on the surface (encountering a gap whilst the colony expands over the surface) or within soil (encountering a gap whilst the colony spreads through the bulk soil). Depending on the orientation, location and width, gaps were demonstrated to act as preferential pathways (increasing the colonisation efficiency of R. solani), or as a partial barrier (reducing the colonisation efficiency). Within bulk soil, R. solani preferentially followed larger pores, enabling the fungus to by-pass more densely areas. Study of soil thin sections revealed that hyphal densities were greater in gaps than in the surrounding bulk soil. We use the results to discuss how macropore structure in soil can either enhance or reduce the parasitic spread and saprotrophic invasion of soil by fungi.     

外生菌根真菌对土壤无机磷迁移的影响

Ectomycorrhizal(EM) fungi could form symbiosis with plant roots and participate in nutrient absorption; however, many EM species commonly found in forest soils, where phosphorus(P) concentration and availability are usually very low, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, have not yet been investigated for their efficiencies to mobilize soil P. In this study, fungal growth, P absorption,efflux of protons and organic acids, and soil P depletion by four isolates of EM fungi isolated either from acidic or calcareous soils were compared in pure liquid culture using soil as a sole P source. Boletus sp. 7(Bo 7), Lactarius deliciosus 3(Ld 3), and Pisolithus tinctorius 715(Pt 715) from acidic and P-deficient soils of southwestern China showed higher biomass and P concentration and accumulation than Cenococcum geophilum 4(Cg 4) from a calcareous soil of Inner Mongolia, northern China, after 4 weeks of liquid culture. Oxalate, malate, succinate, acetate, and citrate concentrations in the culture solutions varied significantly with fungal species,and oxalate accounted for 51.5%–91.4% of the total organic acids. Organic acids, particularly oxalate, in the culture solutions may lead to the solubilization of iron-bound P(Fe-P), aluminum-bound P(Al-P), and occluded P(O-P) from soil phosphates. Fungal species also varied greatly in proton efflux, which decreased the culture solution pH and may dissolve calcium-bound P(Ca-P) in soil.This could be the reason for the increment of both inorganic P in the culture solutions and Olsen P in the soil when EM fungi were present. Total inorganic P, the sum of Al-P, Fe-P, O-P, and Ca-P, in the culture solutions was positively correlated with the total concentration of organic acids in the culture solutions(r = 0.918*, n = 5), but negatively with both the total inorganic P in soil(r =-0.970**, n = 5) and the culture solution pH(r =-0.830*, n = 5). These suggested variable efficiencies of EM fungal species to mobilize inorganic P fractions from soil, which could make EM trees to utilize inorganic P in the same way like EM fungi and adapt to the soils with various P concentrations and availabilities.     

Colonisation of seminal roots of wheat and barley by egg-parasitic nematophagous fungi and their effects on Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici and development of root-rot

This study provides evidence that egg-parasitic nematophagous fungi, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Pochonia rubescens and Lecanicillium lecanii, can also reduce root colonisation and root damage by a fungal pathogen. Interactions of nematophagous fungi with the take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), and their influence on severity of the root disease it causes were studied in laboratory and pot experiments. In Petri dish experiments the three nematophagous fungi reduced colonisation of barley roots by Ggt and also reduced necrotic symptoms. On the contrary, root colonisation by nematophagous fungi was unaffected by Ggt. In growth tube experiments, the three nematophagous fungi again reduced Ggt root colonisation and increased effective root length of barley seedlings. This was true for both simultaneous and sequential inoculation of nematophagous fungi versus Ggt. In the pot experiments the inoculum of the tested fungi in soil was applied in the same pot, as a mixture or in layers, or in coupled pots used for wheat grown with a split-root system. The nematophagous fungi P. chlamydosporia (isolate 4624) and L. lecanii (isolate 4629), mixed with Ggt or in split root systems with the pathogen, promoted growth of wheat (i.e. increased shoot weight), although no disease reduction was found. In split root systems, lower levels of peroxidase activity were found in seedlings inoculated with Ggt in combination with the nematophagous isolates 4624 and 4629 than when the take-all fungus was applied alone.Our results show that nematophagous fungi reduce root colonisation by Ggt, root damage and stress induced senescence in Ggt-inoculated plants.     

Seasonal patterns of cadmium accumulation in Arrhenatherum elatius (Poaceae): Influence of mycorrhizal and endophytic fungal colonisation

We investigated the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) and dark septate fungi (DSF) colonisation on cadmium (Cd) accumulation in Arrhenatherum elatius from heavy metal-contaminated sites. AM colonisation disappeared when Cd concentrations in soil increased, while DSF infection was weak but constant throughout the experiment indicating that soil heavy metals are toxic to AM but not to DSF. AM colonisation was greatest when plant Cd concentrations were highest providing evidence that AM colonisation may influence Cd accumulation. In addition, the disappearance of AM and the concomitant reduction of Cd in shoots during seed maturation result in our suggestion that seasonal variation in AM may play a role in protecting developing seeds from soil pollution.     

Phosphorus fertilisation management modifies the biodiversity of AM fungi in a tropical savanna forage system

In the present study we investigated how the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in roots of Centrosema macrocarpum responded to different doses and sources of phosphorus (40 kg ha⁻¹ of P as rock phosphate, 150 kg ha⁻¹ of P as rock phosphate and 75 kg ha⁻¹ of P as diammonium phosphate together with 75 kg ha⁻¹ of P as rock phosphate) in a Venezuelan savanna ecosystem. We also related AMF diversity to soil parameters (total N, total P, available P, extractable K, total Ca, total Mg, total Fe, total Cu, total Zn, total Mn, glomalin-related soil protein, microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase, urease and acid phosphatase activities, water-soluble carbon and carbohydrates and aggregate stability) at different doses of P. The AM fungal small-subunit (SSU) rRNA genes were subjected to PCR, cloning, SSCP, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Nine fungal types were identified: six belonged to the genus Glomus and three to Acaulospora. The majority of fungal types showed high similarity to sequences of known glomalean isolates: Aca 1 to Acaulospora mellea, Aca 2 to Acaulospora rugosa, Aca 3 to Acaulospora spinosa, Glo 1 to Glomus intraradices and Glo 3 to Glomus fasciculatum. The control treatment was dominated by species belonging to the genus Acaulospora. However, when the soil was fertilised with low doses of P, the colonisation of roots increased and there was a change in the AMF diversity, the genus Glomus dominating. The AM development and the abundance of AM fungal types in roots were decreased dramatically by the fertilisation with high doses of P, without differences between the sources of P used. The available P in soil was negatively correlated with the AMF diversity. In conclusion, the application of low doses of P as rock phosphate stimulated mycorrhization and enhanced the soil quality parameters except water-soluble carbohydrates, helping to offset a loss of fertility in P-poor tropical savanna soils.     

Responses of oribatid mites to tree girdling and nutrient addition in boreal coniferous forests

Tree girdling has been experimentally used to stop the allocation of carbohydrates from the canopy to tree roots and their associated ectomycorrhizal (EM) mycelia. We used three already established girdling experiments in northern Sweden, one in a Pinus sylvestris stand and two in Picea abies stands, to determine the effect of tree girdling on soil-living oribatid mites. These mites often feed on fungal hyphae, but it is not known to what extent they feed on EM or saprotrophic fungi. We hypothesised that a presumed decline in EM fungi after girdling would strongly reduce EM-feeding specialists and, correspondingly, reduce total abundance and species richness of oribatids in girdled plots. Tree girdling resulted in a significant decline in total abundance of oribatid mites in the two spruce stands, which was assumed to be linked to the decline in EM fungi, but not in the pine stand. Species richness decreased in girdled plots in one of the spruce forests. The decline in total abundance in girdled spruce stands was primarily dependent on a significant and consistent population decrease in Oppiella nova, which was the most abundant oribatid mite in the ungirdled spruce plots. Its abundance after girdling was only 8–18% of that in ungirdled spruce plots. In the pine stand, O. nova had much lower abundance than in the spruce stands, and despite a tendency to decline in number after girdling also in the pine stand, it had a minor effect on total abundance. These results suggest that O. nova may be dependent on EM fungi in spruce forest soils, whereas the dependence on EM fungi in pine forest soils is less evident.     

Microfungal community structure in anthropogenic birch stands in central Finland

We describe the soil microfungal communities in 30-year-old birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands planted either on former spruce forest soil (BS) or on former arable soil (BF) and compare these with the soil microfungal communities in spruce forests (S), arable fields (F) and old deciduous forests (D). Fungi were isolated from 0- to 3-cm and 3- to 6-cm samples collected in September 1997 and May 1998. Principal components analysis differentiated fungal communities in the S and BS sites from those in the other site types. The Morisita-Horn index of similarity indicated that fungal communities in the F and BF sites were less similar to those in the other site types. Fungal communities of the BS and S sites were more similar in the 3- to 6-cm layer than in the 0- to 3-cm layer, suggesting that it takes >30 years to replace the spruce litter and associated fungal community. Similarity between fungal communities in the F and BF sites was low, indicating significant changes in the fungal community composition following afforestation of field soil by birch. Fungal communities in the BS and BF sites were more similar to each other than those of their original site types. Fungal communities of the BS, BF and S sites were more similar to those of the D sites than those of the F sites were to the D sites. Differences between the fungal communities of the different site types were attributed primarily to litter quality, earthworm community, and secondarily to organic matter, pH, KCl-extractable NH₄⁺, and PO₄^3-.     

Plant type differently promote the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biodiversity in the rhizosphere after revegetation of a degraded, semiarid land

It is suggested that the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their association with distinct plants species are crucial in the early stages of revegetation procedures since the AMF roots colonisation plays an important role improving plant establishment and growth. We carried out a study where we analyse the AMF community composition in the roots of Ephedra fragilis, Rhamnus lycioides, Pistacia lentiscus and Retama sphaerocarpa fourteen months after revegetation in a Mediterranean semiarid degraded area of southeast Spain in order to verify whether different plant species can variably promote the diversity of AM fungi in their rhizospheres after planted. We analysed a portion of approximately 795 bases pairs of the small-subunit ribosomal DNA by means of nested PCR, cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Eight fungal sequence types belonging to Glomus group A and B and to the genus Paraglomus were identified. The different plant species had different AM fungal community composition. Thus, R. lycioides harboured the highest number of four fungal sequence types while from E. fragilis only two types could be characterized that were specific for this plant species. P. lentiscus and R. sphaerocarpa harboured each one three sequence types and two of them were shared. All AMF sequence types were found in the natural soil. These results show that one effective way of restoring degraded lands is to increase the number of plant species used, which would increase the AMF diversity in the soil and thus the below-ground, positive interactions.     

黄土高原油松根际土壤酶活性及真菌群落多样性研究——以黄龙山林场为例

为了解黄土高原油松林根际土壤酶活性和真菌群落多样性,本研究分析了陕西黄龙县不同样区油松根际土壤脲酶、碱性磷酸酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性,并采用巢式PCR-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)技术研究了油松根际土壤中真菌群落多样性。结果表明,该地区油松根际真菌群落相似性较高,但受坡向、海拔、土壤水分及人类扰动等诸多因素的影响,不同样区的真菌群落多样性和土壤酶活性存在差异。油松根际各土壤酶活性均表现出坡顶样地高于坡底样地,阴面样地高于阳面样地,林区路旁样地由于采样环境不同于林中样地,酶活性介于其他样地之间;丰富度(S)、Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、Simpson指数(D)、均匀度指数(EH)分析表明,该区域油松根际土壤真菌群落多样性分布特征与酶活性分布特征相一致。相关性分析表明,除过氧化氢酶外,其余酶活性之间、以及与真菌多样性均呈显著正相关(p0.05);土壤含水量与真菌多样性和土壤酶活性除多酚氧化酶外均呈显著正相关(p0.05);而土壤p H与各种酶活性之间均未达显著相关水平(p0.05)。土壤含水量是影响该地区真菌群落多样性与土壤酶活性主要因素之一。     

Relationships between microbial indices in roots and silt loam soils forming a gradient in soil organic matter

Perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne) was grown in a greenhouse pot experiment on seven soils to answer the question whether the microbial colonisation of roots is related to existing differences in soil microbial indices. The soils were similar in texture, but differed considerably in soil organic matter, microbial biomass, and microbial community structure. Ergosterol and fungal glucosamine were significantly interrelated in the root material. This ergosterol was also significantly correlated with the average ergosterol content of bulk and rhizosphere soil. In addition, the sum of fungal C and bacterial C in the root material revealed a significant linear relationship with microbial biomass C in soil. The colonisation of roots with microorganisms increased apparently with an increase in soil microbial biomass. In the root material, microbial tissue consisted of 77% fungi and 23% bacteria. In soil, the fungal dominance was slightly, but significantly lower, with 70% fungi and 30% bacteria. Fungal glucosamine in the root material was significantly correlated with that in soil (r=0.65). This indicates a close relationship between the composition of dead microbial remains in soil and the living fraction in soil and root material for unknown reasons.     

Mycorrhizal fungi increase biocontrol potential of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Wheat roots are susceptible to colonisation by soil-borne pathogens, such as Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), which causes the globally important disease take-all, and mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Certain rhizosphere fluorescent Pseudomonas strains have received much attention as potential biocontrol agents given their ability to produce antibiotics, such as 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), that confer a measure of plant protection. Here we show that Pseudomonas fluorescens only produced DAPG in the presence of soluble carbon from soil containing either Ggt or AMF, and production increased by two orders of magnitude in response to both AMF and Ggt. Encouragement of mycorrhizal colonisation may therefore offer a sustainable strategy for protection against take-all.