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Keywords = fungal biogeography

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21 pages, 4432 KiB  
Article
Soil Fungal Diversity, Community Structure, and Network Stability in the Southwestern Tibetan Plateau
by Shiqi Zhang, Zhenjiao Cao, Siyi Liu, Zhipeng Hao, Xin Zhang, Guoxin Sun, Yuan Ge, Limei Zhang and Baodong Chen
J. Fungi 2025, 11(5), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11050389 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Despite substantial research on how environmental factors affect fungal diversity, the mechanisms shaping regional-scale diversity patterns remain poorly understood. This study employed ITS high-throughput sequencing to evaluate soil fungal diversity, community composition, and co-occurrence networks across alpine meadows, desert steppes, and alpine shrublands [...] Read more.
Despite substantial research on how environmental factors affect fungal diversity, the mechanisms shaping regional-scale diversity patterns remain poorly understood. This study employed ITS high-throughput sequencing to evaluate soil fungal diversity, community composition, and co-occurrence networks across alpine meadows, desert steppes, and alpine shrublands in the southwestern Tibetan Plateau. We found significantly higher fungal α-diversity in alpine meadows and desert steppes than in alpine shrublands. Random forest and CAP analyses identified the mean annual temperature (MAT) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as major ecological drivers. Mantel tests revealed that soil physicochemical properties explained more variation than climate, indicating an indirect climatic influence via soil characteristics. Distance–decay relationships suggested that environmental heterogeneity and species interactions drive community isolation. Structural equation modeling confirmed that the MAT and NDVI regulate soil pH and carbon/nitrogen availability, thereby influencing fungal richness. The highly modular fungal co-occurrence network depended on key nodes for connectivity. Vegetation coverage correlated positively with network structure, while soil pH strongly affected network stability. Spatial heterogeneity constrained stability and diversity through resource distribution and niche segregation, whereas stable networks concentrated resources among dominant species. These findings enhance our understanding of fungal assemblage processes at a regional scale, providing a scientific basis for the management of soil fungal resources in plateau ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Ecological Interactions of Fungi)
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29 pages, 14079 KiB  
Article
Molecular Phylogenetics and Estimation of Evolutionary Divergence and Biogeography of the Family Cordycipitaceae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales)
by Huili Pu, Jiao Yang, Nemat O. Keyhani, Lixia Yang, Minhai Zheng, Chenghao Qiu, Yuchen Mao, Junya Shang, Yongsheng Lin, Chengjie Xiong, Longbing Lin, Pengyu Lai, Yanbin Huang, Xin Yuan, Huiling Liang, Longfei Fan, Xiaoli Ma, Chunjin Qiu and Junzhi Qiu
J. Fungi 2025, 11(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11010028 - 2 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1607
Abstract
The Cordycipitaceae family of insecticidal fungi is widely distributed in nature, is the most complex in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota), with members displaying a diversity of morphological characteristics and insect host ranges. Based on Bayesian evolutionary analysis of five genomic loci(the small subunit [...] Read more.
The Cordycipitaceae family of insecticidal fungi is widely distributed in nature, is the most complex in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota), with members displaying a diversity of morphological characteristics and insect host ranges. Based on Bayesian evolutionary analysis of five genomic loci(the small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene, the large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU) gene, the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) gene, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), we inferred the divergence times for members of the Cordycipitaceae, improving the internal phylogeny of this fungal family. Molecular clock analyses indicate that the ancestor of Akanthomyces sensu lato occurred in the Paleogene period (34.57 Mya, 95% HPD: 31.41–37.67 Mya), and that most species appeared in the Neogene period. The historical biogeography of Akanthomyces sensu lato was reconstructed using reconstructing ancestral state in phylogenies (RASP) analysis, indicating that it most likely originated in Asia. Combined morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify and taxonomically place five species within Cordycipitaceae. These include the following: (i) two new species, namely Akanthomyces baishanensis sp. nov. and Samsoniella sanmingense sp. nov., (ii) a new record species isolated from infected Lepidopteran host, Blackwellomyces lateris, (iii) a new record species in the genus Niveomyces, with sporothrix-like asexual morphs, namely N. multisynnematus, isolated from dipteran insects (flies), and (iv) a known species of the (hyper-) mycoparasite, Liangia sinensis, isolated from the fungus Ophiocordyceps globiceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae) growing on a dipteran host. Our data provide a significant addition to the diversity, ecology, and evolutionary aspects of the Cordycipitaceae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Microscopic Fungi)
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23 pages, 1125 KiB  
Review
Exploring Fungal Diversity in Seagrass Ecosystems for Pharmaceutical and Ecological Insights
by Oshadi Rajakaruna, Nalin N. Wijayawardene, Susantha Udagedara, Prabath K. Jayasinghe, Sudheera S. Gunasekara, Nattawut Boonyuen, Thushara C. Bamunuarachchige and Kahandawa G. S. U. Ariyawansa
J. Fungi 2024, 10(9), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10090627 - 2 Sep 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3787
Abstract
Marine ecosystems are important in discovering novel fungi with interesting metabolites that have shown great potential in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. Seagrasses, the sole submerged marine angiosperm, host diverse fungal taxa with mostly unknown metabolic capabilities. They are considered to be one of [...] Read more.
Marine ecosystems are important in discovering novel fungi with interesting metabolites that have shown great potential in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. Seagrasses, the sole submerged marine angiosperm, host diverse fungal taxa with mostly unknown metabolic capabilities. They are considered to be one of the least studied marine fungal habitats in the world. This review gathers and analyzes data from studies related to seagrasses-associated fungi, including taxonomy and biogeography, and highlights existing research gaps. The significance of the seagrass–fungal associations remains largely unknown, and current understanding of fungal diversity is limited to specific geographical regions such as the Tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indo-Pacific. Our survey yielded 29 culture-dependent studies on seagrass-associated endophytic and epiphytic fungi, and 13 miscellaneous studies, as well as 11 meta-studies, with no pathogenic true fungi described. There is a significant opportunity to expand existing studies and conduct multidisciplinary research into novel species and their potential applications, especially from understudied geographical locations. Future research should prioritize high-throughput sequencing and mycobiome studies, utilizing both culture-dependent and -independent approaches to effectively identify novel seagrass-associated fungal taxa. Full article
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16 pages, 4487 KiB  
Article
Effect of Plateau pika on Soil Microbial Assembly Process and Co-Occurrence Patterns in the Alpine Meadow Ecosystem
by Xiangtao Wang, Zhencheng Ye, Chao Zhang and Xuehong Wei
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061075 - 26 May 2024
Viewed by 1243
Abstract
Burrowing animals are a critical driver of terrestrial ecosystem functioning, but we know little about their effects on soil microbiomes. Here, we evaluated the effect of burrowing animals on microbial assembly processes and co-occurrence patterns using soil microbiota from a group of habitats [...] Read more.
Burrowing animals are a critical driver of terrestrial ecosystem functioning, but we know little about their effects on soil microbiomes. Here, we evaluated the effect of burrowing animals on microbial assembly processes and co-occurrence patterns using soil microbiota from a group of habitats disturbed by Plateau pikas (Ochtona curzoniae). Pika disturbance had different impacts on bacterial and fungal communities. Fungal diversity generally increased with patch area, whereas bacterial diversity decreased. These strikingly different species–area relationships were closely associated with their community assembly mechanisms. The loss of bacterial diversity on larger patches was largely driven by deterministic processes, mainly due to the decline of nutrient supply (e.g., organic C, inorganic N). In contrast, fungal distribution was driven primarily by stochastic processes that dispersal limitation contributed to their higher fungal diversity on lager patches. A bacterial co-occurrence network exhibited a positive relationship of nodes and linkage numbers with patch area, and the fungal network presented a positive modularity–area relationship, suggesting that bacteria tended to form a closer association community under pika disturbance, while fungi tended to construct a higher modularity network. Our results suggest that pikas affects the microbial assembly process and co-occurrence patterns in alpine environments, thereby enhancing the current understanding of microbial biogeography under natural disturbances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Microbial Ecology)
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18 pages, 3633 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution Patterns and Assembly Processes of Abundant and Rare Fungal Communities in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Forests
by Reyila Mumin, Dan-Dan Wang, Wen Zhao, Kai-Chuan Huang, Jun-Ning Li, Yi-Fei Sun and Bao-Kai Cui
Microorganisms 2024, 12(5), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050977 - 13 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1497
Abstract
Revealing the biogeography and community assembly mechanisms of soil microorganisms is crucial in comprehending the diversity and maintenance of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forests. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques and null model analysis to explore the distribution patterns and assembly processes of [...] Read more.
Revealing the biogeography and community assembly mechanisms of soil microorganisms is crucial in comprehending the diversity and maintenance of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forests. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques and null model analysis to explore the distribution patterns and assembly processes of abundant, rare, and total fungal communities in P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests based on a large-scale soil survey across northern China. Compared to the abundant and total taxa, the diversity and composition of rare taxa were found to be more strongly influenced by regional changes and environmental factors. At the level of class, abundant and total taxa were dominated by Agaricomycetes and Leotiomycetes, while Agaricomycetes and Sordariomycetes were dominant in the rare taxa. In the functional guilds, symbiotrophic fungi were advantaged in the abundant and total taxa, and saprotrophic fungi were advantaged in the rare taxa. The null model revealed that the abundant, rare, and total taxa were mainly governed by stochastic processes. However, rare taxa were more influenced by deterministic processes. Precipitation and temperature were the key drivers in regulating the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes. This study provides new insights into both the biogeographical patterns and assembly processes of soil fungi in P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Microbial Communities under Environmental Change)
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12 pages, 1784 KiB  
Article
The Changes of Phyllosphere Fungal Communities among Three Different Populus spp.
by Zhuo Sun, Weixi Zhang, Yuting Liu, Changjun Ding and Wenxu Zhu
Microorganisms 2023, 11(10), 2479; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102479 - 2 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2163
Abstract
As an ecological index for plants, the diversity and structure of phyllosphere microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem stability and balance; they can affect plant biogeography and ecosystem function by influencing host fitness and function. The phyllosphere microbial communities reflect [...] Read more.
As an ecological index for plants, the diversity and structure of phyllosphere microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem stability and balance; they can affect plant biogeography and ecosystem function by influencing host fitness and function. The phyllosphere microbial communities reflect the immigration, survival, and growth of microbial colonists, which are influenced by various environmental factors and leaves’ physical and chemical properties. This study investigated the structure and diversity of phyllosphere fungal communities in three different Populus spp., namely—P. × euramaricana (BF3), P. nigra (N46), and P. alba × P. glandulosa (84K). Leaves’ chemical properties were also analyzed to identify the dominant factors affecting the phyllosphere fungal communities. N46 exhibited the highest contents of total nitrogen (Nt), total phosphorus (Pt), soluble sugar, and starch. Additionally, there were significant variations in the abundance, diversity, and composition of phyllosphere fungal communities among the three species: N46 had the highest Chao1 index and observed_species, while 84K had the highest Pielou_e index and Simpson index. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota are the dominant fungal communities at the phylum level. Results from typical correlation analyses indicate that the chemical properties of leaves, especially total phosphorus (Pt), total nitrogen (Nt), and starch content, significantly impact the structure and diversity of the phyllosphere microbial community. However, it is worth noting that even under the same stand conditions, plants from different species have distinct leaf characteristics, proving that the identity of the host species is the critical factor affecting the structure of the phyllosphere fungal community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Microbes in Environmental Remediation)
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28 pages, 4255 KiB  
Article
Biogeography of Fungal Communities Associated with Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. along the Latitudinal Gradient in Europe
by Valeriia Mishcherikova, Jūratė Lynikienė, Adas Marčiulynas, Artūras Gedminas, Oleh Prylutskyi, Diana Marčiulynienė and Audrius Menkis
J. Fungi 2023, 9(8), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9080829 - 6 Aug 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
We assessed the diversity and composition of fungal communities in different functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies stands along the latitudinal gradient of these tree species distributions in Europe to model possible changes in fungal communities imposed [...] Read more.
We assessed the diversity and composition of fungal communities in different functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies stands along the latitudinal gradient of these tree species distributions in Europe to model possible changes in fungal communities imposed by climate change. For each tree species, living needles, shoots, roots, and the rhizosphere soil were sampled and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the latitude and the host tree species had a limited effect on the diversity and composition of fungal communities, which were largely explained by the environmental variables of each site and the substrate they colonize. The mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation had a strong effect on root fungal communities, isothermality on needle fungal communities, mean temperature of the warmest quarter and precipitation of the driest month on shoot fungal communities, and precipitation seasonality on soil fungal communities. Fungal communities of both tree species are predicted to shift to habitats with a lower annual temperature amplitude and with increasing precipitation during the driest month, but the suitability of these habitats as compared to the present conditions is predicted to decrease in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology, 3rd Edition)
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15 pages, 329 KiB  
Review
Factors in the Distribution of Mycorrhizal and Soil Fungi
by Daniel Janowski and Tomasz Leski
Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121122 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 6745
Abstract
Soil fungi are crucial microorganisms in the functioning of ecosystems. They shape the soil properties, facilitate nutrient circulation, and assist with plant growth. However, their biogeography and distribution studies are limited compared to other groups of organisms. This review aims to provide an [...] Read more.
Soil fungi are crucial microorganisms in the functioning of ecosystems. They shape the soil properties, facilitate nutrient circulation, and assist with plant growth. However, their biogeography and distribution studies are limited compared to other groups of organisms. This review aims to provide an overview of the main factors shaping the spatial distribution of soil fungi (with a special focus on mycorrhizal fungi). The review also tries to identify the field frontier where further studies are needed. The main drivers of soil fungal distribution were classified and reviewed into three groups: soil properties, plant interactions, and dispersal vectors. It was apparent that ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular fungi are relatively overrepresented in the body of research, while the other mycorrhiza types and endophytes were grossly omitted. Notwithstanding, soil pH and the share of ectomycorrhizal plants in the plant coverage were repeatedly reported as strong predictors of mycorrhizal fungal distribution. Dispersal potential and vector preferences show more variation among fungi, especially when considering long-distance dispersal. Additionally, special attention was given to the applications of the island biogeography theory to soil fungal assemblages. This theory proves to be a very efficient framework for analyzing and understanding not only the soil fungal communities of real islands but even more effective islands, i.e., isolated habitats, such as patches of trees discontinuous from more enormous forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Microbial Diversity and Culture Collections)
15 pages, 1545 KiB  
Article
View from the Top: Insights into the Diversity and Community Assembly of Ectomycorrhizal and Saprotrophic Fungi along an Altitudinal Gradient in Chinese Boreal Larix gmelinii-Dominated Forests
by Yi Guo, Li Ji, Mingwei Wang, Chengfeng Shan, Fangyuan Shen, Yuchun Yang, Gongxiu He, Witoon Purahong and Lixue Yang
Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10101997 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2300
Abstract
The altitudinal patterns of soil fungi have attracted considerable attention; however, few studies have investigated the diversity and community assembly of fungal functional guilds along an altitudinal gradient. Here, we explored ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and saprotrophic (SAP) fungal diversity and community assembly along a [...] Read more.
The altitudinal patterns of soil fungi have attracted considerable attention; however, few studies have investigated the diversity and community assembly of fungal functional guilds along an altitudinal gradient. Here, we explored ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and saprotrophic (SAP) fungal diversity and community assembly along a 470 m vertical gradient (ranging from 830 to 1300 m) on Oakley Mountain, sampling bulk soils in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm soil layers of Larix gmelinii-dominated forests. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the ITS genes was employed to explore the fungal community composition and diversity. The relative abundance of EcM and SAP fungi showed a divergent pattern along an altitudinal gradient, while we observed a consistent altitudinal tendency for EcM and SAP fungal diversity and community assembly. The diversity of both fungal guilds increased with increasing altitude. Altitude and soil moisture were the key factors affecting the community composition of both fungal guilds. In addition, the plant community composition significantly affected the EcM fungal community composition, whereas the dissolved organic nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen contents were the driving factors of SAP fungal community. Despite the effects of vegetation and soil factors, EcM and SAP fungal communities were mainly governed by stochastic processes (especially drift) at different altitudes and soil depths. These results shed new light on the ecology of different fungal functional guilds along an altitudinal gradient, which will provide a deeper understanding of the biogeography of soil fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Microbial Diversity and Its Ecological Functions)
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16 pages, 1268 KiB  
Review
Fungi in Freshwaters: Prioritising Aquatic Hyphomycetes in Conservation Goals
by Juliana Barros and Sahadevan Seena
Water 2022, 14(4), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14040605 - 16 Feb 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7255
Abstract
Deprivation of protection for aquatic hyphomycetes is disturbing because they are key players in freshwater ecosystems across the globe. To attain a more holistic conservation paradigm for biodiversity in freshwaters, it is necessary to broaden our ecological perception of microfungi, mainly in aquatic [...] Read more.
Deprivation of protection for aquatic hyphomycetes is disturbing because they are key players in freshwater ecosystems across the globe. To attain a more holistic conservation paradigm for biodiversity in freshwaters, it is necessary to broaden our ecological perception of microfungi, mainly in aquatic hyphomycetes. A considerable groundwork still needs to be accomplished in progressing towards conserving aquatic hyphomycetes. Overcoming the paucity of information regarding the rare and endangered species, biogeography and above all, a global biodiversity database, would be a significant contribution in the initiation of an overarching conservation strategy for aquatic hyphomycetes. Being aware that the biodiversity decline in freshwaters is alarming, here we seek to explore why biodiversity data of aquatic hyphomycetes are missing. This article closely examines the threats to the biodiversity of aquatic hyphomycetes and freshwater ecosystems. Moving forward, we advocate a structured approach to gaining a thorough understanding to embrace aquatic hyphomycetes biodiversity into the conservation strategies. Including aquatic hyphomycetes in the conservation objectives may attract more funding opportunities for global surveys to initiate a fungal inclusive conservation era. Fungal conservation ventures can profit from interdisciplinary collaborations and cutting-edge science and technology, leading to informed decision making for biodiversity assessment and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems)
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22 pages, 4176 KiB  
Article
Global Warming Favors the Development of a Rich and Heterogeneous Mycobiota on Alien Vines in a Boreal City under Continental Climate
by Anton G. Shiryaev, Ivan V. Zmitrovich, Timur S. Bulgakov, Olga S. Shiryaeva and Lyudmila M. Dorofeyeva
Forests 2022, 13(2), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020323 - 16 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2838
Abstract
The species richness and composition of macro- and microfungi on vine species in the parks of Ekaterinburg City (the Ural macroregion, Russia) located in the southern boreal vegetation subzone in a continental climate was studied. The average annual air temperature has increased by [...] Read more.
The species richness and composition of macro- and microfungi on vine species in the parks of Ekaterinburg City (the Ural macroregion, Russia) located in the southern boreal vegetation subzone in a continental climate was studied. The average annual air temperature has increased by 3.1 °C since the beginning of the 20th century; therefore, the conditions for the growth of vines have improved. These conditions include warmer winters and, consequently, less frost damage to perennial plants. Due to the warmer climate, the area of vines grown in the city has increased five times over half a century, and the yield of grapes has grown 3.7 times. The alien East Asian vines are the most dominate vine species cultivated, while European, North American, and native plant species, including archaeophytes, together only represent a handful of the species cultivated. At the same time, 65% of the area of woody vines in the city is covered by a North American species, namely Parthenocissus quinquefolia. An increase in the number of vine species, their biomass, and covered areas contributes to an increase in the number of fungal species growing on these vine species. In total, 81 species of phytopathogenic and 87 species of saprobic macro- and microfungi have been recorded during the century-long history of mycological research in Ekaterinburg City. Mycobiota of vines in Ekaterinburg City is biogeographically heterogeneous and 1.1–3.2 times richer in comparison with ones of the regions located on the northern limit of natural ranges of the vines. Recorded macrofungi (Basidiomycota) are predominantly present on native boreal species; however, some exotic tropical and subtropical East Asian fungal species (that have not ever been recorded on other substrates in the natural forests of the Urals and Siberia) are found here too. Recorded microfungi are highly specialized vine-associated species (mainly Ascomycota) that are widespread within the natural ranges of the vines and absent in the boreal zone of Eurasia: there are 63 vine-associated species (15 macro- and 48 microfungi) in Ekaterinburg that are not found in the Urals on other substrates. Many of these species have been recorded for the first time in this study, so we consider that they invaded Ekaterinburg City in the last 20 years, likely due to the warming climate observed over the last decades in the region. There are 19 and 32 species of phytopathogenic fungi collected in the families Cucurbitaceae and Vitaceae, respectively. During the past 40 years, the recorded fungal species richness has increased by 16% on Cucurbitaceae, as well as 37% on grapes. In this study, the distribution of vine-associated fungi, including phytopathogenic fungal species, from the nearest regions of ancient vine culture (Southern European Russia and the Caucasus, Central Asia, the south of the Russian Far East) to the boreal regions of the Urals were investigated. The increase in the range of these phytopathogenic fungal species can lead to significant economic losses to the regional agricultural sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution and Diversity under Climate Change)
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12 pages, 2962 KiB  
Article
Phosphorus Limitation of Trees Influences Forest Soil Fungal Diversity in China
by Lamei Zheng and Wenchen Song
Forests 2022, 13(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020223 - 1 Feb 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2772
Abstract
Fungal-biogeography studies have shown global patterns of biotic interactions on microbial biogeography. However, the mechanisms underlying these patterns remain relatively unexplored. To determine the dominant factors affecting forest soil fungal diversity in China, soil and leaves from 33 mountain forest reserves were sampled, [...] Read more.
Fungal-biogeography studies have shown global patterns of biotic interactions on microbial biogeography. However, the mechanisms underlying these patterns remain relatively unexplored. To determine the dominant factors affecting forest soil fungal diversity in China, soil and leaves from 33 mountain forest reserves were sampled, and their properties were measured. We tested three hypotheses and established the most realistic one for China. The results showed that the soil fungal diversity (Shannon index) varied unimodally with latitude. The relative abundance of ectomycorrhizae was significantly positively correlated with the leaf nitrogen/phosphorus. The effects of soil available phosphorus and pH on fungal diversity depended on the ectomycorrhizal fungi, and the fungal diversity shifted by 93% due to available phosphorus, potassium, and pH. Therefore, we concluded that latitudinal changes in temperature and the variations in interactions between different fungal guilds (ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic, and plant pathogenic fungi) did not have a major influence. Forest soil fungal diversity was affected by soil pH, available phosphorus, and potassium, which are driven by the phosphorus limitation of trees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability)
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10 pages, 3510 KiB  
Article
Uphill Shifts of Fungal Fruiting Due to Climate Change at the Polar Urals
by Anton G. Shiryaev
Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1892; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9091892 - 6 Sep 2021
Viewed by 2396
Abstract
Due to the ongoing climatic changes in the Arctic, the ranges of many plants and animal species are rising higher into the mountains, into the treeline; however, such studies are rare for fungi. The 60-year fruiting dynamics of 66 species of Agaricomycetous macrofungi [...] Read more.
Due to the ongoing climatic changes in the Arctic, the ranges of many plants and animal species are rising higher into the mountains, into the treeline; however, such studies are rare for fungi. The 60-year fruiting dynamics of 66 species of Agaricomycetous macrofungi has been studied along the altitudinal transect located on the slope of Slantsevaya Mountain (Polar Urals, Russia). It has been found that the three basic trophic groups (mycorrhizal, saprobes on litter and soil, and saprobes on wood) fruit higher in the mountains. Additionally, for most of the studied species, a tendency towards upward displacement of fruiting was revealed. The rise in fruiting for saprobes on litter and soil was the most obvious. Mycorrhizal fungi associated with woody plants showed the least uplifting effect. Fungal species that were characterized by fruiting higher up the mountainside half a century ago show stronger upward shifts compared to species previously bearing fruit only at the mountain foot. Probably, such a reaction of the aboveground mycobiota is similar to the processes occurring in the soil, which are associated with an active increase in the decomposition rate of the litter, an increase in the depth of permafrost thawing, and a significant redistribution of the soil water balance. On the other hand, the rise of fungi is associated with an increase of plant biomass in the middle and upper parts, which are the most important sources of fungal nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eukaryotic Microorganisms in Cryosphere: Their Diversity and Strategy)
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24 pages, 6934 KiB  
Article
Unraveling the Microbiota of Natural Black cv. Kalamata Fermented Olives through 16S and ITS Metataxonomic Analysis
by Maria Kazou, Aikaterini Tzamourani, Efstathios Z. Panagou and Effie Tsakalidou
Microorganisms 2020, 8(5), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8050672 - 6 May 2020
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5620
Abstract
Kalamata natural black olives are one of the most economically important Greek varieties. The microbial ecology of table olives is highly influenced by the co-existence of bacteria and yeasts/fungi, as well as the physicochemical parameters throughout the fermentation. Therefore, the aim of this [...] Read more.
Kalamata natural black olives are one of the most economically important Greek varieties. The microbial ecology of table olives is highly influenced by the co-existence of bacteria and yeasts/fungi, as well as the physicochemical parameters throughout the fermentation. Therefore, the aim of this study was the identification of bacterial and yeast/fungal microbiota of both olives and brines obtained from 29 cv. Kalamata olive samples industrially fermented in the two main producing geographical regions of Greece, namely Aitoloakarnania and Messinia/Lakonia. The potential microbial biogeography association between certain taxa and geographical area was also assessed. The dominant bacterial family identified in olive and brine samples from both regions was Lactobacillaceae, presenting, however, higher average abundances in the samples from Aitoloakarnania compared to Messinia/Lakonia. At the genus level, Lactobacillus, Celerinatantimonas, Propionibacterium and Pseudomonas were the most abundant. In addition, the yeasts/fungal communities were less diverse compared to those of bacteria, with Pichiaceae being the dominant family and Pichia, Ogataea, and Saccharomyces being the most abundant genera. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the microbiota of both olives and brines of cv. Kalamata black olives fermented on an industrial scale between two geographical regions of Greece using metagenomics analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Microbial Diversity)
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18 pages, 2474 KiB  
Review
Armillaria Root-Rot Pathogens: Species Boundaries and Global Distribution
by Martin P.A. Coetzee, Brenda D. Wingfield and Michael J. Wingfield
Pathogens 2018, 7(4), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7040083 - 24 Oct 2018
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 8373
Abstract
This review considers current knowledge surrounding species boundaries of the Armillaria root-rot pathogens and their distribution. In addition, a phylogenetic tree using translation elongation factor subunit 1-alpha (tef-1α) from isolates across the globe are used to present a global phylogenetic framework [...] Read more.
This review considers current knowledge surrounding species boundaries of the Armillaria root-rot pathogens and their distribution. In addition, a phylogenetic tree using translation elongation factor subunit 1-alpha (tef-1α) from isolates across the globe are used to present a global phylogenetic framework for the genus. Defining species boundaries based on DNA sequence-inferred phylogenies has been a central focus of contemporary mycology. The results of such studies have in many cases resolved the biogeographic history of species, mechanisms involved in dispersal, the taxonomy of species and how certain phenotypic characteristics have evolved throughout lineage diversification. Such advances have also occurred in the case of Armillaria spp. that include important causal agents of tree root rots. This commenced with the first phylogeny for Armillaria that was based on IGS-1 (intergenic spacer region one) DNA sequence data, published in 1992. Since then phylogenies were produced using alternative loci, either as single gene phylogenies or based on concatenated data. Collectively these phylogenies revealed species clusters in Armillaria linked to their geographic distributions and importantly species complexes that warrant further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Pathogens of Forest Trees)
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