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Microorganisms
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Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition
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Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Microbe Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2021) | Viewed by 12473

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Flavia Pinzari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Biological Systems (IBS), Council of National Research of Italy (CNR), 00015 Monterotondo (RM), Italy
Interests: fungal ecology in plant decomposition; plant growth-promoting bacteria
Dr. Paolo Di Lonardo

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Soil Biology Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Interests: soil biology; microbial ecology; fungi; soil organic carbon; ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Micro-habitats and substrates are of considerable significance in determining fungal species' distribution and, according to some authors, local differences in distribution are greater than continental differences. Besides their diversity and importance, the distribution of fungal species, phyla, and functional groups has been poorly documented. Metabarcoding analysis of soils showed that fungal richness is decoupled from plant diversity. Moreover, massive sequencing of leaf litter fungal communities showed that climatic factors, followed by edaphic and spatial variables, constitute only some of the predictors of decomposers distribution at the global scale. Despite the recognised importance of fungi in litter decomposition and numerous studies of nutrient dynamics, little is known about the uptake of nutrients by fungi at the soil-litter interface. Traditionally, studies focused on the dynamics of macronutrients such as C, N and P. Other elements, particularly microelements, have received much less attention, and their sources are almost unknown. By their activity, fungi are both sources and sinks of nutrients necessary for plant growth. Fungal biomass controls significant fractions of nutrient pools in soil and nutrient availability to the ecosystems. The overall emerging picture is that the contrasting patterns in the dynamics of chemical elements in different terrestrial ecosystems are due to different nutrient availability to decomposers. But, at the same time, that some decomposers actively modify nutrient availability to other decomposers.

In this Special Issue of Microorganisms, entitled “Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition”, we aim to shed light on the processes that shape fungal communities in soils through the ultimate research in these areas.

We encourage papers or reviews dealing with:

  • fungal functional diversity at the soil-litter interface
  • role of fungi in microelements mobilisation and immobilisation in soils
  • fungal role in minor elements cycles during litter decomposition
  • fungal ecology and biodiversity in soil
  • fungal succession on particular substrates
  • impact of global change on fungal-driven decomposition processes
  • fungal-bacterial interaction during organic matter decomposition
  • innovative techniques for studying fungal biodiversity and ecology in plant decomposition
Dr. Flavia Pinzari
Dr. Paolo Di Lonardo
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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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

  • microbial ecology
  • decomposition processes
  • plant decomposition

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2113 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Phylogeny of Novel Cord-Forming Fungi from Borneo
by Rachel Foster, Hanna Hartikainen, Andie Hall and David Bass
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020239 - 22 Jan 2022
Viewed by 2038
Abstract
Cord-forming (CF) fungi are found worldwide; however, tropical CF fungi are poorly documented. They play an essential role in forest ecosystems by interconnecting nutrient resources and aiding in the decomposition of plant matter and woody litter. CF fungi samples were collected from two [...] Read more.
Cord-forming (CF) fungi are found worldwide; however, tropical CF fungi are poorly documented. They play an essential role in forest ecosystems by interconnecting nutrient resources and aiding in the decomposition of plant matter and woody litter. CF fungi samples were collected from two forest conservation sites in the Sabah region of Malaysian Borneo. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the ribosomal rRNA gene array 18S to 28S region from cords collected placed all of the collected specimens in Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycetes), specifically within the orders Trechisporales, Phallales, Hymenochaetales, Polyporales, and Agaricales. Comparison of the cord-derived sequences against GenBank and UNITE sequence databases, as well as phylogenetic analyses, revealed they were all novel sequences types. Many of these novel lineages were found to be closely related to other basidiomycetes commonly found in tropical forests, suggesting a large undiscovered tropical fungal diversity in Borneo that has been detected independently of sampling fruiting bodies. We show how these sequence types relate to the morphologies of the cords from which they were sampled. We also highlight how rapid, small-scale sampling can be a useful tool as an easy and relatively unbiased way of collecting data on cord-forming fungi in difficult-to-access, complex forest environments, independently of locating and sampling sporophores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition)
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12 pages, 2271 KiB  
Article
Functional Diversity of the Litter-Associated Fungi from an Oxalate-Carbonate Pathway Ecosystem in Madagascar
by Vincent Hervé, Anaële Simon, Finaritra Randevoson, Guillaume Cailleau, Gabrielle Rajoelison, Herintsitohaina Razakamanarivo, Saskia Bindschedler, Eric Verrecchia and Pilar Junier
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050985 - 01 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2600
Abstract
The oxalate-carbonate pathway (OCP) is a biogeochemical process linking oxalate oxidation and carbonate precipitation. Currently, this pathway is described as a tripartite association involving oxalogenic plants, oxalogenic fungi, and oxalotrophic bacteria. While the OCP has recently received increasing interest given its potential for [...] Read more.
The oxalate-carbonate pathway (OCP) is a biogeochemical process linking oxalate oxidation and carbonate precipitation. Currently, this pathway is described as a tripartite association involving oxalogenic plants, oxalogenic fungi, and oxalotrophic bacteria. While the OCP has recently received increasing interest given its potential for capturing carbon in soils, there are still many unknowns, especially regarding the taxonomic and functional diversity of the fungi involved in this pathway. To fill this gap, we described an active OCP site in Madagascar, under the influence of the oxalogenic tree Tamarindus indica, and isolated, identified, and characterized 50 fungal strains from the leaf litter. The fungal diversity encompassed three phyla, namely Mucoromycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota, and 23 genera. Using various media, we further investigated their functional potential. Most of the fungal strains produced siderophores and presented proteolytic activities. The majority were also able to decompose cellulose and xylan, but only a few were able to solubilize inorganic phosphate. Regarding oxalate metabolism, several strains were able to produce calcium oxalate crystals while others decomposed calcium oxalate. These results challenge the current view of the OCP by indicating that fungi are both oxalate producers and degraders. Moreover, they strengthen the importance of the role of fungi in C, N, Ca, and Fe cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition)
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16 pages, 1601 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Habitat- and Season-Independent Increase in Fungal Biomass Induced by the Invasive Giant Goldenrod and Its Impact on the Fungivorous Nematode Community
by Paula Harkes, Lisa J. M. van Heumen, Sven J. J. van den Elsen, Paul J. W. Mooijman, Mariëtte T. W. Vervoort, Gerrit Gort, Martijn H. M. Holterman, Joris J. M. van Steenbrugge, Casper W. Quist and Johannes Helder
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020437 - 19 Feb 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2378
Abstract
Outside its native range, the invasive plant species giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) has been shown to increase belowground fungal biomass. This non-obvious effect is poorly characterized; we don’t know whether it is plant developmental stage-dependent, which fractions of the fungal community [...] Read more.
Outside its native range, the invasive plant species giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) has been shown to increase belowground fungal biomass. This non-obvious effect is poorly characterized; we don’t know whether it is plant developmental stage-dependent, which fractions of the fungal community are affected, and whether it is reflected in the next trophic level. To address these questions, fungal assemblages in soil samples collected from invaded and uninvaded plots in two soil types were compared. Although using ergosterol as a marker for fungal biomass demonstrated a significant increase in fungal biomass, specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays did not point at a quantitative shift. MiSeq-based characterization of the belowground effects of giant goldenrod revealed a local increase of mainly Cladosporiaceae and Glomeraceae. This asymmetric boost in the fungal community was reflected in a specific shift in the fungivorous nematode community. Our findings provide insight into the potential impact of invasive plants on local fungal communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition)
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20 pages, 10525 KiB  
Article
Hallmarks of Basidiomycete Soft- and White-Rot in Wood-Decay -Omics Data of Two Armillaria Species
by Neha Sahu, Zsolt Merényi, Balázs Bálint, Brigitta Kiss, György Sipos, Rebecca A. Owens and László G. Nagy
Microorganisms 2021, 9(1), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010149 - 11 Jan 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4590
Abstract
Wood-decaying Basidiomycetes are among the most efficient degraders of plant cell walls, making them key players in forest ecosystems, global carbon cycle, and in bio-based industries. Recent insights from -omics data revealed a high functional diversity of wood-decay strategies, especially among the traditional [...] Read more.
Wood-decaying Basidiomycetes are among the most efficient degraders of plant cell walls, making them key players in forest ecosystems, global carbon cycle, and in bio-based industries. Recent insights from -omics data revealed a high functional diversity of wood-decay strategies, especially among the traditional white-rot and brown-rot dichotomy. We examined the mechanistic bases of wood-decay in the conifer-specialists Armillaria ostoyae and Armillaria cepistipes using transcriptomic and proteomic approaches. Armillaria spp. (Fungi, Basidiomycota) include devastating pathogens of temperate forests and saprotrophs that decay wood. They have been discussed as white-rot species, though their response to wood deviates from typical white-rotters. While we observed an upregulation of a diverse suite of plant cell wall degrading enzymes, unlike white-rotters, they possess and express an atypical wood-decay repertoire in which pectinases and expansins are enriched, whereas lignin-decaying enzymes (LDEs) are generally downregulated. This combination of wood decay genes resembles the soft-rot of Ascomycota and appears widespread among Basidiomycota that produce a superficial white rot-like decay. These observations are consistent with ancestral soft-rot decay machinery conserved across asco- and Basidiomycota, a gain of efficient lignin-degrading ability in white-rot fungi and repeated, complete, or partial losses of LDE encoding gene repertoires in brown- and secondarily soft-rot fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Ecology in Plant Decomposition)
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