Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi favor invasive Echinops sphaerocephalus when grown in competition with native Inula conyzae.

In a globalized world, plant invasions are common challenges for native ecosystems. Although a considerable number of invasive plants form arbuscular mycorrhizae, interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and invasive and native plants are not well understood. In this study, we conducted a greenhouse experiment examining how AM fungi affect interactions of co-occurring plant species in the family Asteracea, invasive Echinops sphaerocephalus and native forb of central Europe Inula conyzae.

Biofilm and planktonic microbial communities in highly acidic soil (pH < 3) in the Soos National Nature Reserve, Czech Republic.

Biofilm formation is a typical life strategy used by microorganisms populating acidic water systems. The same strategy might be used by microbes in highly acidic soils that are, however, neglected in this regard. In the present study, the microbial community in such highly acidic soil in the Soos National Nature Reserve (Czech Republic) has been investigated using high-throughput DNA sequencing and the organisms associated with biofilm life mode and those preferring planktonic life were distinguished using the biofilm trap technique.

Geography and habitat predominate over climate influences on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities of mid-European meadows.

Despite the crucial importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for numerous processes within terrestrial ecosystems, knowledge of the determinants of AMF community structure still is limited, mainly because of the limited scope of the available individual case studies which often only include a few environmental variables. Here, we describe the AMF diversity of mid-European meadows (mown or regularly cut grasslands, or recently abandoned lands where grasslands established spontaneously) within a considerably heterogeneous landscape over a scale of several hundred kilometers with regard to macroclimatic, microclimatic, and soil parameters. We include data describing the habitat (including vegetation type), geography, and climate, and test their contribution to the structure of the AMF communities at a regional scale.

Appropriate nonmycorrhizal controls in arbuscular mycorrhiza research: a microbiome perspective.

Establishment of nonmycorrhizal controls is a "classic and recurrent theme" in mycorrhizal research. For decades, authors reported mycorrhizal plant growth/nutrition as compared to various nonmycorrhizal controls. In such studies, uncertainties remain about which nonmycorrhizal controls are most appropriate and, in particular, what effects the control inoculations have on substrate and root microbiomes.

Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Stimulates Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Two spp. through Improved Phosphorus Acquisition.

Legumes establish root symbioses with rhizobia that provide plants with nitrogen (N) through biological N fixation (BNF), as well as with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that mediate improved plant phosphorus (P) uptake. Such complex relationships complicate our understanding of nutrient acquisition by legumes and how they reward their symbiotic partners with carbon along gradients of environmental conditions. In order to disentangle the interplay between BNF and AM symbioses in two species ( and ) along a P-fertilization gradient, we conducted a pot experiment where the rhizobia-treated plants were either inoculated or not inoculated with AM fungus 'PH5' and grown in two nutrient-poor substrates subjected to one of three different P-supply levels.

Monitoring CO emissions to gain a dynamic view of carbon allocation to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Quantification of carbon (C) fluxes in mycorrhizal plants is one of the important yet little explored tasks of mycorrhizal physiology and ecology. CO pulse-chase labelling experiments are increasingly being used to track the fate of C in these plant-microbial symbioses. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring of both the below- and aboveground CO emissions remains a challenge, although it is necessary to establish the full C budget of mycorrhizal plants.

Plant-fungus competition for nitrogen erases mycorrhizal growth benefits of Andropogon gerardii under limited nitrogen supply.

Considered to play an important role in plant mineral nutrition, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a common relationship between the roots of a great majority of plant species and glomeromycotan fungi. Its effects on the plant host are highly context dependent, with the greatest benefits often observed in phosphorus (P)-limited environments. Mycorrhizal contribution to plant nitrogen (N) nutrition is probably less important under most conditions.

Organic Nitrogen-Driven Stimulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Hyphae Correlates with Abundance of Ammonia Oxidizers.

Large fraction of mineral nutrients in natural soil environments is recycled from complex and heterogeneously distributed organic sources. These sources are explored by both roots and associated mycorrhizal fungi. However, the mechanisms behind the responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) hyphal networks to soil organic patches of different qualities remain little understood.

A quest for indigenous truffle helper prokaryotes.

Tuber aestivum is the most common European truffle with significant commercial exploitation. Its production originates from natural habitats and from artificially inoculated host tree plantations. Formation of Tuber ectomycorrhizae in host seedling roots is often inefficient.

Tuber aestivum Vittad. mycelium quantified: advantages and limitations of a qPCR approach.

A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) marker Ta0 with hydrolysis probe ("TaqMan"), targeted to the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA, has been developed for quantification of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) mycelium. Gene copy concentrations determined by the qPCR were calibrated against pure culture mycelium of T. aestivum, enabling quantification of the mycelium in soil and in host roots from the fields.

Truffle brûlé: an efficient fungal life strategy.

The terms 'brûlé' and 'burnt' are used to describe vegetation-devoid areas of the ground around a range of woody plants interacting with certain truffle species. Increasing interest is currently focused on a systematic search for and study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by truffles in the course of their life cycle. These metabolites are now recognized as biochemicals with an important impact on burnt formation.

Detection of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) in ectomycorrhizae and in soil using specific primers.

Tuber aestivum is becoming an important commodity of great economical value in some European countries. At the same time, it is a highly protected organism in other countries, where it needs careful treatment. A reliable method of detection in roots and soil is thus needed for assessment of geographic distribution, ecological studies and inoculation efficiency testing in man-made experiments.

Influence of soil organic matter decomposition on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in terms of asymbiotic hyphal growth and root colonization.

Soil organic matter is known to influence arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but limited information is available on the chemical components in the organic matter causing these effects. We studied the influence of decomposing organic matter (pure cellulose and alfalfa shoot and root material) on AM fungi after 30, 100, and 300 days of decomposition in nonsterile soil with and without addition of mineral N and P. Decomposing organic matter affected maize root length colonized by the AM fungus Glomus claroideum in a similar manner as other plant growth parameters.