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Forests
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Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects
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Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (11 June 2023) | Viewed by 11487

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ying-Ning Zou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Interests: mycorrhizal and plant resistance (high temperature, low temperature, drought, waterlogging, salt stress, etc.)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xianan Xie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Interests: arbuscular mycorrhiza; walnut; soil fertility; glomalin; citrus; endophytic fungi
Prof. Dr. Qiang-Sheng Wu

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Interests: fruit mycorrhizae; drought physiology in citrus plants; polyamine; glomalin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the evolution of higher plants, many microorganisms evolve with them together as a synergistic plant–microbe world. Among them, fungi have been shown to perform many functions that plants cannot. Beneficial fungi, ranging from endophytic fungi to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, are able to establish symbiotic associations with plant roots, helping host plants to absorb water and nutrients and assisting them to adapt to new environments. Moreover, transferring nutrients and signals between two neighboring plants is communicated through mycorrhizal mycelial networks. In woodland, this communicative phenomenon is more evident. On the other hand, there are also harmful pathogenic fungi that infest plants and produce harmful effects; plants themselves are able to activate some resistance in response to fungal invasion. Thus, fungal–plant interactions have received significant attention from international researchers, and there have been many important achievements.

We invite submissions for a Special Issue of Forests titled “Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects”. Topics for submissions may include, but are not be limited to, the following:

  • How do fungi infect plants and how do plants respond to them?
  • Advances in mycorrhizal fungal–plant interactions, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal functioning on stress tolerance;
  • Isolation and effects of endophytic fungi on plants;
  • Isolation and application of active substances from endophytic fungi;
  • Rhizospheric soil changes after infection by fungi in plants;
  • Pathogenic fungi–plant interactions;
  • Field evaluation of beneficial fungi applied to plants.

Prof. Dr. Ying-Ning Zou
Dr. Xianan Xie
Prof. Dr. Qiang-Sheng Wu
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

  • mycorrhiza
  • endophytic fungi
  • pathogenic fungi

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2391 KiB  
Article
Shiro-like Structure Formation of Chinese Tricholoma matsutake Strain YN1 in Pinus armandii and Pinus elliottii Seedlings
by Xin Chen, Chunye Mou, Qianqian Zhang, Yinbing Bian and Heng Kang
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071439 - 13 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Tricholoma matsutake is one of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungi with great economic and ecological values. Artificially mycorrhized seedlings inoculated with T. matsutake strains from Finland and Japan have been widely reported. However, few reports on the morphological characteristics of mycorrhizae synthesized from the [...] Read more.
Tricholoma matsutake is one of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungi with great economic and ecological values. Artificially mycorrhized seedlings inoculated with T. matsutake strains from Finland and Japan have been widely reported. However, few reports on the morphological characteristics of mycorrhizae synthesized from the Chinese T. matsutake strain are available to date. Here, we find that the T. matsutake strain YN1 from Yunnan province, China, can form well-developed ectomycorrhizae in symbiosis with both exotic (Pinus elliottii) and Chinese native (Pinus armandii) species. The symbiotic structures of ectomycorrhizae included obvious mantle sheaths and Hartig nets visible under a microscope. The ectomycorrhizae appeared earlier in a larger quantity in P. elliottii than in P. armandii in the culture-plate symbiotic system. The ectomycorrhizae obviously promoted the growth of potted P. armandii and P. elliottii, accompanied by the formation of shiro-like structures. Our results provide references for the effective management of ectomycorrhizae synthesis in both P. armandii and P. elliottii seedlings to form shiro-like structures, and also provide a new perspective for the afforestation and mushroom cultivation research on T. matsutake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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26 pages, 6456 KiB  
Article
Effects of Ficus carica L. Water Extract on Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc. Growth
by Qianqian Li, Jin Huang, Xue Yang, Zarmina Gul, Wenxue Sun, Bin Qiao, Jiabo Cheng, Chunying Li and Chunjian Zhao
Forests 2023, 14(6), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061213 - 12 Jun 2023
Viewed by 972
Abstract
Our research group successfully designed the F. carica and Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc mixed forest, and confirmed that their interspecific relationship was stable and F. carica has a promoting effect on neighboring T. cuspidata growth. However, the promoting mechanism has not been [...] Read more.
Our research group successfully designed the F. carica and Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc mixed forest, and confirmed that their interspecific relationship was stable and F. carica has a promoting effect on neighboring T. cuspidata growth. However, the promoting mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, F. carica was used as the donor plant and T. cuspidata was used as the recipient plant. T. cuspidata seedlings were irrigated with F. carica root extracts of different concentrations (10.0, 20.0, 40.0 g·L−1), and the plant height, base diameter, photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigments, MDA contents, and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured. Soil physical and chemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial diversity were measured. The results showed that the abundance of growth-promoting bacteria increased and the number of pathogenic bacteria decreased in the rhizosphere of T. cuspidata soil. It was speculated that the chemicals secreted by F. carica roots interacted with soil microorganisms of T. cuspidata soil after enrichment, changed soil microbial diversity, and indirectly promoted the growth of T. cuspidata. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was used to analyze F. carica root water extract and F. carica root exudates, respectively, and it was found that the main components were similar. Therefore, the promoting effect of F. carica on T. cuspidata is mainly caused by the accumulation of potential chemicals in F. carica root exudates in the soil through interaction with soil microorganisms. Furthermore, the allelopathic-promoting mechanism of F. carica on T. cuspidata was discussed from various aspects, to provide a theoretical basis for the protection, breeding, and sustainable management of T. cuspidata resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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14 pages, 4566 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Potential Interactions of Soil Viruses and Host Bacteria under Different Land Use Patterns
by Yuting Yan, Danting Yu, Lili Han, Chengyu Yuan and Jizheng He
Forests 2023, 14(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020342 - 09 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1596
Abstract
Viruses, as the most abundant entities on earth, play an important role in shaping bacterial communities, mediating gene transfer between host cells, and promoting biogeochemical cycles. Yet, soil viruses remain understudied, as there is a lack of information about the mechanisms of community [...] Read more.
Viruses, as the most abundant entities on earth, play an important role in shaping bacterial communities, mediating gene transfer between host cells, and promoting biogeochemical cycles. Yet, soil viruses remain understudied, as there is a lack of information about the mechanisms of community construction, interactions between viruses and host bacteria, and ecological functions. To expand our understanding of soil viruses, we investigated six viromes across three land use types in northeast and southwestern China, including agricultural and forest soils. We analyzed viral and bacterial community composition and explored their interactions. We utilized metagenomic sequencing technology and high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to study viral and bacterial communities. Twenty-four viral families were detected in six viromes including sixteen dsDNA virus families and eight ssDNA virus families. Viral and bacterial communities were significantly different between various land use types, with viruses having greater disparities. The composition of bacterial communities in soils across different land use types was inconsistent with their viral communities. We identified abundant auxiliary carbohydrate-active enzyme genes from viromes. The results revealed that soil viral communities differ by land use type and that viruses could regulate bacterial carbon cycling processes by encoding auxiliary metabolic genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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13 pages, 2239 KiB  
Article
Mycorrhizal Benefits of Salt-Stressed Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. May Be Related to P and Mn2+ Contents in Shoots, Biomass Allocation, and K+/Na+ in Roots and Shoots
by Yanhong Wang, Tiantian Li, Aiping Wu, Yan Li and Naili Zhang
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1882; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111882 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1444
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are taken as bioameliorators to alleviate the detrimental effects of salt stress. However, how AMF affect the performance of Cinnamomum camphora, an economically important species, remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of AMF and [...] Read more.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are taken as bioameliorators to alleviate the detrimental effects of salt stress. However, how AMF affect the performance of Cinnamomum camphora, an economically important species, remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of AMF and salinity on the growth, nutrient acquisition, and ion ratios of C. camphora. A factorial experiment was implemented in a greenhouse with four fungal regimes (inoculation with sterilized AMF, with Funneliformis mosseae or Rhizophagus irregularis, either alone or in combination), and three salt regimes (0, 50, and 200 mM NaCl). Results showed that salinity alone significantly reduced the total dry weight, mycorrhizal colonization, K+ concentration, and ionic homeostasis (particularly K+:Na+, Mg2+:Na+, and Ca2+:Na+) of whole plants. Mycorrhizal inoculation, particularly with R. irregularis, strongly mitigated some of the detrimental effects of salinity, enhancing the salt tolerance of C. camphora. Furthermore, the host plants benefited from the presence of AMF, mainly because they enhanced P and Mn2+ concentrations in the shoots, adjusted biomass allocation, and shifted the selective transporting capacity of K+ over Na+ from roots to shoots. Our results suggested that building mycorrhizal association between C. camphora and R. irregularis may be useful for plant cultivation in coastal areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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22 pages, 5421 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Effects of Artificial Fungi Inoculations on Agarwood Formation and Sap Flow Rate of Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. Using Sonic Tomography (SoT) and Sap Flow Meter (SFM)
by Abd-Majid Jalil, Hazandy Abdul-Hamid, Sahrim-Lias, Mohd-Khairun Anwar-Uyup, Paridah Md-Tahir, Sheriza Mohd-Razali, Ahmad-Azaruddin Mohd-Noor, Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan, Alliesya-Shamelia Shamsul-Anuar, Mohamad Roslan Mohamad Kasim, Johar Mohamed and Rambod Abiri
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101731 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
Agarwood is a valuable aromatic resinous wood that is biosynthesised when a fungal attack injures the healthy wood tissue of the Aquilaria tree. The magnitude of infection related to sap flow (SF) is one of the most critical functional traits to [...] Read more.
Agarwood is a valuable aromatic resinous wood that is biosynthesised when a fungal attack injures the healthy wood tissue of the Aquilaria tree. The magnitude of infection related to sap flow (SF) is one of the most critical functional traits to evaluate the tree’s response to various adverse conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the reliability of sonic tomography (SoT) and sap flow meter (SFM) in studying the influence of inoculation fungi Pichia kudriavzevii Boidin, Pignal and Besson, and Paecilomyces niveus Stolk and Samson, on deteriorated wood (Dt) and SF rate in Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. A. malaccensis trees with small, medium, and large diameters were inoculated with each fungus separately at the bottom, middle, and top positions of the tree and the area of sapwood was measured after 6, 12, and 24 months to stimulate the agarwood formation. Furthermore, the SF rate was assessed using SFM in the position of the selected trees. There was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in Dt% and SF rate between inoculated and uninoculated trees. The Dt percentage in trees inoculated with P. kudriavzevii, P. niveus, and control trees was 25.6%, 25.7%, and 15.0%, respectively. The SF rate was lower in P. kudriavzevii, with 207.7 cm3/h, than in the control trees, with 312.9 cm3/h in the small-diameter class. In summary, the results of this study emphasise the importance of inoculation duration (24 months) and the effects of water conductivity, especially tree diameter class (small), on the biosynthetic response of resinous substance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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18 pages, 8762 KiB  
Article
Protein Markers for the Identification of Cork Oak Plants Infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi by Applying an (α, β)-k-Feature Set Approach
by Ana Cristina Coelho and Gabriela Schütz
Forests 2022, 13(6), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13060940 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1632
Abstract
Cork oak decline in Mediterranean forests is a complex phenomenon, observed with remarkable frequency in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, causing the weakening and death of these woody plants. The defoliation of the canopy, the presence of dry peripheral branches, and [...] Read more.
Cork oak decline in Mediterranean forests is a complex phenomenon, observed with remarkable frequency in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, causing the weakening and death of these woody plants. The defoliation of the canopy, the presence of dry peripheral branches, and exudations on the trunk are visible symptoms used for the prognosis of decline, complemented by the presence of Phytophthora cinnamomi identified in the rhizosphere of the trees and adjacent soils. Recently, a large proteomic dataset obtained from the leaves of cork oak plants inoculated and non-inoculated with P. cinnamomi has become available. We explored it to search for an optimal set of proteins, markers of the biological pattern of interaction with the oomycete. Thus, using published data from the cork oak leaf proteome, we mathematically modelled the problem as an α, β-k-Feature Set Problem to select molecular markers. A set of proteins (features) that represent dominant effects on the host metabolism resulting from pathogen action on roots was found. These results contribute to an early diagnosis of biochemical changes occurring in cork oak associated with P. cinnamomi infection. We hypothesize that these markers may be decisive in identifying trees that go into decline due to interactions with the pathogen, assisting the management of cork oak forest ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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18 pages, 2805 KiB  
Article
Responses of Fungal Community Structure and Functional Composition to Short-Term Fertilization and Dry Season Irrigation in Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis Plantation Soils
by Shangkun Gao, Qian He, Di Huang, Zhengmu Wang, Jianhui Mao, Xianan Xie, Yan Su, Quan Qiu, Jiyue Li and Zujing Chen
Forests 2022, 13(6), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13060854 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1807
Abstract
Plantation forests productivity is severely limited by the seasonal drought and fertilization practices in South China. Soil nutrient and water availability influence soil fungal community, functional group diversity and the variation of plant productivity; however, the effects of irrigation and fertilization on fungal [...] Read more.
Plantation forests productivity is severely limited by the seasonal drought and fertilization practices in South China. Soil nutrient and water availability influence soil fungal community, functional group diversity and the variation of plant productivity; however, the effects of irrigation and fertilization on fungal responses have rarely been studied. Here, we investigate the responses of fungal community structure and functional groups in Eucalyptus plantation soils to short-term fertilization (F), dry-season irrigation (W), short-term fertilization combined with dry-season irrigation (FW), and control (CK) treatments for ten months. A higher proportion of Basidiomycota was observed in the irrigation and/or fertilization treatments; conversely, lower proportions of Ascomycota and Mucoromycotina were observed in the only irrigation and fertilization treatments. Higher soil carbon contents and symbiotroph fungi (mainly Ectomycorrhizas) proportion were detected in the FW treatment, while low proportions of saprophytic and pathogenic fungi were observed in the FW treatment when compared with those in other treatments. These results may indicate that Eucalyptus tree growth under irrigation and fertilization condition was better than under fertilization only, irrigation only, or neither management. The results highlight that short-term fertilization and dry-season irrigation can shift fungal community structure and functional groups by regulating available soil moisture and nutrients. They also provide a theoretical basis for the development of more appropriate management approaches in the early stages of forest plantation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal–Plant Interactions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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