Freezing tolerance of ectomycorrhizal fungi in pure culture.
The ability to survive freezing and thawing is a key factor for the existence of life forms in large parts of the world. However, little is known about the freezing tolerance of mycorrhizal fungi and their role in the freezing tolerance of mycorrhizas. Threshold temperatures for the survival of these fungi have not been assessed experimentally. We grew isolates of Suillus luteus, Suillus variegatus, Laccaria laccata, and Hebeloma sp. in liquid culture at room temperature. Subsequently, we exposed samples to a series of temperatures between +5 degrees C and -48 degrees C. Relative electrolyte leakage (REL) and re-growth measurements were used to assess the damage. The REL test indicated that the lethal temperature for 50% of samples (LT(50)) was between -8.3 degrees C and -13.5 degrees C. However, in the re-growth experiment, all isolates resumed growth after exposure to -8 degrees C and higher temperatures. As many as 64% of L. laccata samples but only 11% in S. variegatus survived -48 degrees C. There was no growth of Hebeloma and S. luteus after exposure to -48 degrees C, but part of their samples survived -30 degrees C. The fungi tolerated lower temperatures than was expected on the basis of earlier studies on fine roots of ectomycorrhizal trees. The most likely freezing tolerance mechanism here is tolerance to apoplastic freezing and the concomitant intracellular dehydration with consequent concentrating of cryoprotectant substances in cells. Studying the properties of fungi in isolation promotes the understanding of the role of the different partners of the mycorrhizal symbiosis in the freezing tolerance.
Lehto
Tarja
T
Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland. tarja.lehto@joensuu.fi.
Brosinsky
Arlena
A
Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
Heinonen-Tanski
Helvi
H
Department of Environmental Science, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Repo
Tapani
T
Joensuu Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
D003080:Cold Temperature; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005615:Freezing; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D004573:Electrolytes