title: Impact of Heterobasidion root-rot on fine root morphology and associated fungi in Picea abies stands on peat soils.
abstract: We examined differences in fine root morphology, mycorrhizal colonisation and root-inhabiting fungal communities between Picea abies individuals infected by Heterobasidion root-rot compared with healthy individuals in four stands on peat soils in Latvia. We hypothesised that decreased tree vitality and alteration in supply of photosynthates belowground due to root-rot infection might lead to changes in fungal communities of tree roots. Plots were established in places where trees were infected and in places where they were healthy. Within each stand, five replicate soil cores with roots were taken to 20 cm depth in each root-rot infected and uninfected plot. Root morphological parameters, mycorrhizal colonisation and associated fungal communities, and soil chemical properties were analysed. In three stands root morphological parameters and in all stands root mycorrhizal colonisation were similar between root-rot infected and uninfected plots. In one stand, there were significant differences in root morphological parameters between root-rot infected versus uninfected plots, but these were likely due to significant differences in soil chemical properties between the plots. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer of fungal nuclear rDNA from ectomycorrhizal (ECM) root morphotypes of P. abies revealed the presence of 42 fungal species, among which ECM basidiomycetes Tylospora asterophora (24.6 % of fine roots examined), Amphinema byssoides (14.5 %) and Russula sapinea (9.7 %) were most common. Within each stand, the richness of fungal species and the composition of fungal communities in root-rot infected versus uninfected plots were similar. In conclusion, Heterobasidion root-rot had little or no effect on fine root morphology, mycorrhizal colonisation and composition of fungal communities in fine roots of P. abies growing on peat soils.
authors: Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Rigas 111, Salaspils, LV-2169, Latvia.|Forest Sector Competence Center, SIA "MNKC", Dzerbenes 27, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia.
authors: Talis
authors: T
authors: Gaitnieks
authors: Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Rigas 111, Salaspils, LV-2169, Latvia.
authors: Darta
authors: D
authors: Klavina
authors: Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas Str. 1, Riga, LV-1586, Latvia.
authors: Indrikis
authors: I
authors: Muiznieks
authors: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Vantaa Research Centre, Jokiniemenkuja 1, FI-01370, Vantaa, Finland.
authors: Taina
authors: T
authors: Pennanen
authors: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Vantaa Research Centre, Jokiniemenkuja 1, FI-01370, Vantaa, Finland.
authors: Sannakajsa
authors: S
authors: Velmala
authors: Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Rimvydas
authors: R
authors: Vasaitis
authors: Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden. audrius.menkis@slu.se.
authors: Audrius
authors: A
authors: Menkis
mesh_terms: D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology; D028222:Picea / Q000382:microbiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Ectomycorrhizal fungi; Norway spruce; Organic soil; Pathogens; Root-rot