Abstract
Polygonum viviparum is one of the first ectomycorrhizal (EM) plant species colonising primary successional sites at the Rotmoos glacier forefront (Tyrolean Alps, Austria). On a site with soil development of about 150 years (2,400 m above sea level), mycobionts of P. viviparum were identified by morphotyping and fungal ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid internal transcribed spacer sequencing. For studying seasonal dynamics and spatial heterogeneity, ectomycorrhizae were sampled on five plots during all seasons. P. viviparum root tips were always EM. In total, 18 mycobiont taxa of the following genera were identified: Cenococcum (1), Cortinarius (2), Helvella (1), Inocybe (3), Russula (1), Sebacina (2), Thelephora (2) and Tomentella (6). All were non-specific EM partners of EM plants. As early as 2 weeks after spring snow melt, EM were well developed, vital and showed high mycobiont diversity. The relative abundance of senescent root tips was lowest in spring and increased throughout the year, with a maximum in winter (frozen soil). Thus, mycobiont growth and physiological activity obviously start when soil is still under snow cover: We speculate that water availability is one important initiation factor for mycorrhizal development under snow cover, when temperatures still range around the freezing point. Irrespectively of the season, most abundant mycobionts at this primary successional site belonged to the genera Tomentella, Sebacina and Cenococcum, also in frozen soil. Spatial heterogeneity was high when considering species composition and diversity indices. Overall mycobionts species richness was restricted at this site, probably because of the limited availability of fungal partners. We regard the presence/absence of fungal partner and limiting abiotic impacts of the environment as key factors for the symbiotic status of P. viviparum.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Rüdiger Kaufmann for the provision of soil temperature and moisture data. Thanks to Regina Kuhnert, Irmgard Oberkofler and Verena Schmid for their assistance in the field and to the anonymous reviewers and Stefan Hutwimmer for their important impacts revising this manuscript. This study is part of the project “Seasonal dynamics of underground EM fungal communities in an alpine primary successional habitat” (P17910-B03) funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
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Supplementary Table S1
Main distinguishing features of Polygonum viviparum morphotypes (MT): descriptions of colour, axis form, mantle surface, emanating elements and mantle layer. (DOC 44 kb)
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Mühlmann, O., Bacher, M. & Peintner, U. Polygonum viviparum mycobionts on an alpine primary successional glacier forefront. Mycorrhiza 18, 87–95 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-007-0156-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-007-0156-z