Mycena species can be opportunist-generalist plant root invaders

Harder, Christoffer Bugge; Hesling, Emily; Botnen, Synnøve S.; Lorberau, Kelsey E.; Dima, Bálint; von Bonsdorff‐Salminen, Tea; Niskanen, Tuula; Jarvis, Susan G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5382-5135; Ouimette, Andrew; Hester, Alison; Hobbie, Erik A.; Taylor, Andy F.S.; Kauserud, Håvard. 2023 Mycena species can be opportunist-generalist plant root invaders. Environmental Microbiology, 25 (10). 1875-1893. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16398

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Abstract/Summary

Traditional strict separation of fungi into ecological niches as mutualist, parasite or saprotroph is increasingly called into question. Sequences of assumed saprotrophs have been amplified from plant root interiors, and several saprotrophic genera can invade and interact with host plants in laboratory growth experiments. However, it is uncertain if root invasion by saprotrophic fungi is a widespread phenomenon and if laboratory interactions mirror field conditions. Here, we focused on the widespread and speciose saprotrophic genus Mycena and performed (1) a systematic survey of their occurrences (in ITS1/ITS2 datasets) in mycorrhizal roots of 10 plant species, and (2) an analysis of natural abundances of 13C/15N stable isotope signatures of Mycena basidiocarps from five field locations to examine their trophic status. We found that Mycena was the only saprotrophic genus consistently found in 9 out of 10 plant host roots, with no indication that the host roots were senescent or otherwise vulnerable. Furthermore, Mycena basidiocarps displayed isotopic signatures consistent with published 13C/15N profiles of both saprotrophic and mutualistic lifestyles, supporting earlier laboratory-based studies. We argue that Mycena are widespread latent invaders of healthy plant roots and that Mycena species may form a spectrum of interactions besides saprotrophy also in the field.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16398
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1462-2912
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Botany
Date made live:	27 Oct 2023 15:17 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535614

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