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Contrasting preferences of arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi colonizing boreal and subarctic Avenella flexuosa

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Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi are ubiquitous in grass roots, but their colonizations may vary according to latitudinal gradient and site conditions. We investigated how vegetation zone (boreal vs. subarctic), humus thickness, and site openness affect root fungal colonizations of the grass Avenella flexuosa. More precisely, we hypothesized that AM and DSE fungal colonizations would have different responses to environmental conditions such that AM fungi could be more common in boreal zone, whereas we expected DSE fungi to be more affected by the amount of humus. We found site openness to affect AM and DSE fungi in a contrasting manner, in interaction with the vegetation zone. AM colonization was high at open coastal dunes, whereas DSE fungi were more common at forested sites, in the boreal zone. Humus thickness affected AM fungi negatively and DSE fungi positively. To conclude, the observed AM and DSE fungal colonization patterns were largely contrasting. AM fungi were favored in seashore conditions characterized by thin humus layer, whereas DSE fungi were favored in conditions of higher humus availability.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kari Saikkonen and Juha Tuomi for their comments on the manuscript and the Botanical Museum and Botanical Garden of the University of Oulu for the use of their technical facilities. This research was supported by grants from the Academy of Finland (project no. 122092 and 138309), the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Oulun läänin talousseuran maatalous Foundation, the Natural History Society of Oulu, and the Olvi Foundation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    M. Kauppinen & P. R. Wäli

  2. Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    K. Raveala

  3. Kolari Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Muoniontie 21, 95900, Kolari, Finland

    P. R. Wäli

  4. Biodiversity Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    A. L. Ruotsalainen

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  1. M. Kauppinen
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  2. K. Raveala
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  3. P. R. Wäli
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  4. A. L. Ruotsalainen
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Correspondence to M. Kauppinen.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Table 2 Collection site characteristics of Avenella flexuosa in Kilpisjärvi and in Oulu. pH and conductivity were measured from the humus layer. C/N was not determined in 2008. ETRS-TM35FIN was used as the coordinate system
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Kauppinen, M., Raveala, K., Wäli, P.R. et al. Contrasting preferences of arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi colonizing boreal and subarctic Avenella flexuosa . Mycorrhiza 24, 171–177 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-013-0526-7

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