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Impact of Heterobasidion root-rot on fine root morphology and associated fungi in Picea abies stands on peat soils

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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.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the JSC “Latvian State Forests”, ERDF funded project (no. L-KC-11-0004) “Methods and technologies for increasing forest capital value”, research direction “Investigation of the factors limiting the spread of root rot”, grant project no.426/2012 of Latvian Council of Science “Evaluation of factors affecting the efficacy of Phlebiopsis gigantea against Heterobasidion root rot” and the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Rigas 111, Salaspils, LV-2169, Latvia

    Talis Gaitnieks & Darta Klavina

  2. Forest Sector Competence Center, SIA “MNKC”, Dzerbenes 27, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia

    Talis Gaitnieks

  3. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas Str. 1, Riga, LV-1586, Latvia

    Indrikis Muiznieks

  4. Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Vantaa Research Centre, Jokiniemenkuja 1, FI-01370, Vantaa, Finland

    Taina Pennanen & Sannakajsa Velmala

  5. Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    Rimvydas Vasaitis & Audrius Menkis

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  1. Talis Gaitnieks
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  2. Darta Klavina
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Correspondence to Audrius Menkis.

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Gaitnieks, T., Klavina, D., Muiznieks, I. et al. Impact of Heterobasidion root-rot on fine root morphology and associated fungi in Picea abies stands on peat soils. Mycorrhiza 26, 465–473 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-016-0685-4

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