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Forests
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Fungal Diversity in Forests
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Fungal Diversity in Forests

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 2791

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bernardo Ernesto Lechner

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Guest Editor
Instituto de Micología y Botánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, DBBE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: mycology; agaricales; fungi; fungal ecology; conservation; physiology; cultivation; fungal taxonomy; fungal diversity; fungal biology
Dr. Izabela Kałucka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Interests: trees; fungi plant interactions; mycorrhiza; fungal diversity; fungal ecology; fungal conservation
Dr. Viktor Papp

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Botany, Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ménesi Street 44, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: polypores; wood-inhabiting fungi; old-growth forest fungi; systematics and taxonomy; molecular phylogeny

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of fungal diversity in forests has significantly evolved, with such changes being driven by a growing recognition of fungi's crucial ecological roles and impacts on forest ecosystems. Fungi, once overshadowed by plants and animals, have now gained prominence in ecological research. They play essential roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and mycorrhizal associations with trees and are highly sensitive to environmental changes.

Historically, research into fungal diversity in forests focused on taxonomic classification, with early taxonomists identifying and categorizing species based on their morphological characteristics. Later advancements, such as molecular techniques, DNA sequencing, and environmental DNA analysis, enabled us to unveil the hidden diversity within fungal communities.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of current research into fungal diversity in forests and its broader ecological implications. It highlights various aspects of this field, including taxonomy, community ecology, functional roles, conservation, and responses to environmental changes.

The scope of this Special Issue includes exploring novel fungal species, investigating fungal communities’ composition and dynamics, understanding their roles in nutrient cycling and symbiotic interactions, assessing the impacts of environmental stressors, and exploring biotechnological applications. By compiling diverse research into these topics, this Special Issue seeks to deepen our understanding of fungi's vital roles in maintaining forest ecosystem health and sustainability. Researchers worldwide are invited to contribute their insights in this evolving field.

Dr. Bernardo Ernesto Lechner
Dr. Izabela Kałucka
Dr. Viktor Papp
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungal diversity
  • fugal taxonomy
  • fungal biology
  • forests
  • biodiversity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5359 KiB  
Article
Soil Fungal Function Centralization Enhances the Decomposition of Fine Roots at Canopy Gap Borders
by Haijun Liao, Chaonan Li, Zhoulin Han, Guorong Luo, Yulian Yang, Qinggui Wu, Aluo An, Xianwei Li and Dehui Li
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081293 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 604
Abstract
Canopy gaps can result in abiotic heterogeneities and diverse niches from gap borders to centers, potentially affecting fine root decompositions mediated by soil fungal communities. Despite extensive discussions on the relationship between soil fungi and fine root decomposition, the mechanism by which gap [...] Read more.
Canopy gaps can result in abiotic heterogeneities and diverse niches from gap borders to centers, potentially affecting fine root decompositions mediated by soil fungal communities. Despite extensive discussions on the relationship between soil fungi and fine root decomposition, the mechanism by which gap locations regulate fine root decomposition through the soil fungal community remains elusive. Here, we conducted an in situ field decomposition experiment of Chinese Toon (Toona sinensis) fine roots in a low-efficiency weeping cypress (Cupressus funebris) plantation forest across three microhabitats: gap centers, gap borders, and closed canopy areas. Soil fungal communities were determined using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing after two years of field incubation. Results showed that soil properties and nutrient content in residual roots varied across the three microhabitats, with the gap borders exhibiting the highest decomposition rates. While fungal α-diversity remained relatively consistent, taxonomic compositions differed significantly. Decomposition rates did not show significant correlations with soil properties, observed fungal ASVs, or overall community composition. However, they positively correlated with the relative abundance of saprotrophic Sordariomycetes, which in turn positively correlated with soil total nitrogen (with a highest correlation), peaking at the gap borders. Overall community variations were primarily driven by soil temperature and magnesium content in residual roots. Further analysis revealed high fungal community similarities and low dispersal limitations between the gap borders and closed canopy areas, with more phylogenetically clustered communities at the borders. These results demonstrate that the gap borders possess a high decomposition rate, likely due to the centralization of functions driven by soil fungi such as saprotrophs existing in the “microbial seed bank” or migrating from closed canopy areas. These findings highlight the key role of soil fungi, especially saprotrophic fungi, in fine root decomposition at the gap borders, stressing the importance of soil fungi-driven mechanisms in nutrient cycling, and also informing sustainable forest management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Diversity in Forests)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Experimental designs (<b>A</b>) in this study, the definition of gap centers (GC) and borders (GB) (<b>B</b>), the decomposition rate of Chinese Toon (<span class="html-italic">Toona sinensis</span>) fine roots (<b>C</b>), and the relationships between decomposition rate and the nutrient content in residual roots (<b>D</b>). ρ-values and <span class="html-italic">p</span>-values in panel (<b>D</b>) represent Spearman rank correlation coefficients and associated significance, respectively. RLig: lignin content in residual roots; RTN: total nitrogen in residual roots; RTC: total carbon in residual roots; RCN: the ratio of RTC to RTN; RMg: magnesium content in residual roots; and RCel: cellulose content in residual roots. CC: closed canopy areas; * <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05. A symbol of “ns” represents a <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value greater than 0.05.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Taxonomic composition of soil fungal communities at class level (<b>A</b>) and the relative abundance of five class-level saprotrophic lineages consisting of ASVs varied significantly (<span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.01) across closed canopy areas (CC), gap centers (GC), and gap borders (GB) (<b>B</b>). The numbers with an orange color in panel (<b>B</b>) represent the numbers of ASVs identified for each class-level saprotrophic lineage. A symbol of “ns” indicates a <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value greater than 0.05. ASV: amplicon sequence variants. ** <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.01, *** <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.001, **** <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.0001.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Shifts in observed fungal ASVs across the microhabitats of closed canopy areas (CC), gap centers (GC), and gap borders (GB) (<b>A</b>), unique ASVs in each microhabitat and shared ones between or among microhabitats (<b>B</b>), principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) of soil fungal communities based on Bray–Curtis distances (<b>C</b>), and the comparison of Bray–Curtis distances within each microhabitat (<b>D</b>), and between microhabitats (<b>E</b>). A symbol of “ns” in panel (<b>A</b>) and panel (<b>D</b>) indicates a <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value greater than 0.05. Numbers in panel (<b>B</b>) represent the ASV numbers. FCM: fungal community; ASV: amplicon sequence variant. **** <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.0001.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Redundancy analysis (RDA, Bray−Curtis distance) for fungal communities in soils at closed canopy areas (CC), gap centers (GC), and gap borders (GB) (<b>A</b>,<b>B</b>), variance partitioning analysis (VPA) for fungal communities (<b>C</b>), and the relationship between the Bray−Curtis distances of fungal communities and the Euclidean distances of soil temperature (ST) and magnesium content in residual roots (RMg) (<b>D</b>). The numbers on the top of bars in panel (<b>C</b>) represent the explained proportions of fungal community differences. ρ-values and <span class="html-italic">p</span>-values in panel (<b>D</b>) represent Spearman correlation coefficient and associated significance, respectively. ST: soil temperature; SWC: soil moisture content; SOC: soil total organic carbon; STN: soil total nitrogen; SAP: soil available phosphorus; RTC: root total carbon; RTN: root total nitrogen; RCN: the ratio of RTC to RTN; RCa: root calcium content; RMg: root magnesium content; RLig: root lignin content; RCel: root cellulose content; and RHem: root hemicellulose content.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>The standardized effect size measurement of the mean nearest taxon distance (ses.MNTD) (<b>A</b>) and β-nearest taxon index (βNTI) (<b>B</b>) within the microhabitats of closed canopy areas (CC), gap centers (GC), and gap borders (GB), the βNTI between the GC and CC, and the GB and CC (<b>C</b>), and the community assembling processes within each microhabitat (<b>D</b>) and between microhabitats (<b>E</b>). A symbol of “ns” in panels (<b>A</b>–<b>C</b>) represents a <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value greater than 0.05. * <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05.</p> Full article ">
17 pages, 3146 KiB  
Article
The Fungal Functional Guilds at the Early-Stage Restoration of Subalpine Forest Soils Disrupted by Highway Construction in Southwest China
by Chaonan Li, Haijun Liao, Dehui Li and Yanli Jing
Forests 2024, 15(4), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040636 - 30 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1176
Abstract
Soil fungi often operate through diverse functional guilds, and play critical roles in driving soil nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition and the health of above-ground vegetation. However, fungal functional guilds at the early-stage restoration of disrupted subalpine forest soils remain elusive. In the [...] Read more.
Soil fungi often operate through diverse functional guilds, and play critical roles in driving soil nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition and the health of above-ground vegetation. However, fungal functional guilds at the early-stage restoration of disrupted subalpine forest soils remain elusive. In the present study, we collected 36 soil samples along an altitudinal gradient (2900 m a.s.l., 3102 m a.s.l., and 3194 m a.s.l.) from cut slopes (CS) (from Wenma highway) and natural soils (NS) at the Miyaluo of Lixian County, Southwest China. By applying nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, this study revealed the ecological characteristics of fungal functional guild in the early-stage restoration of cut slope soils. The results showed that the predicted prevalence of ectomycorrhizal fungi decreased, while plant pathogens and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased in CS. In the high-altitude regions (3102 m a.s.l. and 3194 m a.s.l.), the differences in communities between natural and cut slope soils were more pronounced for total soil fungi, soil saprotroph, litter saprotroph, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi, in contrast to the low altitude communities (2900 m a.s.l.). An opposite pattern was evident for plant pathogens. Variations in the differences of both soil properties (mainly soil pH) and community assembling processes (e.g., heterogeneous selection, dispersal limitation and drift) between natural and cut slope soils across the altitudinal gradient likely shaped the shifting patterns of community difference. This study provides valuable insights for devising restoration approaches for cut slopes in subalpine forest ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of taking soil fungal functional guilds into account in evaluating the restoration of cut slopes, and underscoring the necessity for increased attention to the restoration of soil fungi in cut slopes at the high-altitude ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Diversity in Forests)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>The ASV number of each fungal functional guild (<b>A</b>) and the relative abundance of these guilds (<b>B</b>). Bars filled with a green color in figure (<b>A</b>) and the fonts with a green color in the legend of figure (<b>B</b>) are the functional guilds discussed in this study. Numbers in figure (<b>A</b>) represent the ASV numbers of functional guild. ASV: amplicon sequence variants; NS: natural soils; CS: cut slope soils.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Variations in the observed ASV of total soil fungi (<b>A</b>), soil saprotroph (<b>B</b>), litter saprotroph (<b>C</b>), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (<b>D</b>), ectomycorrhizal fungi (<b>E</b>), and plant pathogen (<b>F</b>). Numbers in each subgraph represent false discovery rates (FDR) inferred using a Wilcoxon rank sum test, and a FDR with a red color represents that there is a significant difference (FDR &lt; 0.05) between natural (NS) and cut slope (CS) soils. The subfigures A to C share the same axis titles and text with subfigures D to E. ASV: amplicon sequence variants.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Comparisons for Bray–Curtis distance inferred from total soil fungi (<b>A</b>), soil saprotroph (<b>B</b>), litter saprotroph (<b>C</b>), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (<b>D</b>), ectomycorrhizal fungi (<b>E</b>), plant pathogen (<b>F</b>), between natural (NS) and cut slope (CS) soils among three altitudes. Numbers in each subgraph represent false discovery rates (FDR) inferred using a Wilcoxon rank sum test, and a FDR with a red color represents that there is a significant difference (FDR &lt; 0.05) between NS and CS. The subfigures A to C share the same axis titles and text with subfigures D to E.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Comparisons for β-nearest taxon index (βNTI) inferred from total soil fungi (<b>A</b>), soil saprotroph (<b>B</b>), litter saprotroph (<b>C</b>), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (<b>D</b>), ectomycorrhizal fungi (<b>E</b>), and plant pathogen (<b>F</b>), between natural (NS) and cut slope (CS) soils among altitudes. Numbers in each subgraph represent false discovery rates (FDR) inferred using a Wilcoxon rank sum test, and a FDR with a red color means that there is a significant difference (FDR &lt; 0.05) between NS and CS. The subfigures A to C share the same axis titles and text with subfigures D to E.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Pearson correlations between fungal diversity/community and soil properties. Numbers in each cell of this figure represent correlation coefficients (the R values shown in the legend), and only those correlation coefficients with a false discovery rate (FDR) less than 0.05 are shown in the cells. The red dashed box indicates the maximal correlation coefficients in each row. MC: moisture content; ST: soil temperature; CD: conductivity; TOC: total organic carbon; TN: total nitrogen; <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msubsup> <mrow> <mi>NH</mi> </mrow> <mn>4</mn> <mo>+</mo> </msubsup> </mrow> </semantics></math>-N: ammonium nitrogen; <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msubsup> <mrow> <mi>NO</mi> </mrow> <mn>3</mn> <mo>−</mo> </msubsup> </mrow> </semantics></math>-N: nitrate nitrogen; TP: total phosphorus; SAP: soil available phosphorus. OA: Observed ASV; BC: Bray–Curtis distance. * FDR &lt; 0.05, ** FDR &lt; 0.001; *** FDR &lt; 0.001.</p> Full article ">
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