First record of Hericium flagellum (Basidiomycota) from the “Olbina” nature reserve in Wielkopolska Voivodship, Poland

Hericium flagellum (Scop.) Pers. is considered a rare, wood-decaying fungus that occurs on coniferous trees, predominantly on silver fir (Abies alba). In this paper, a new locality of H. flagellum in Wielkopolska Voivodship is presented, along with the macro- and micromorphological features of the collected specimens. Basidiomata of H. flagellum were found in November 2016 and 2017 in the “Olbina” nature reserve (ATPOL Dc-97, Kalisz Forest District), located in a continental mixed coniferous forest close to the northern border of the natural range of silver fir. In 2016, H. flagellum was found growing in the hollow of an old stump of silver fir, and in the following year, this fungus was recorded on a fallen log of silver fir. The implications for conservation are briefly presented. Prospects of further development of the basidiomata of H. flagellum in the “Olbina” reserve are also discussed

New locality of Hymenochaete cruenta in the Olbina nature reserve and revisiting of distribution of this fungus in Poland

Hymenochaete cruenta is a saprotrophic fungus, grown mainly on the bark of dead branches and trunks of Abies trees and thus the distribution of this fungus in Poland and other European countries is closely connected with natural range of silver fir. Despite its wide range, H. cruenta is considered as rare in the whole area of its occurrence. In this paper, we present a new locality of H. cruenta, discovered in May and September 2016 in the Olbina nature reserve (southern Wielkopolska Lowland, Kalisz Forest District). Ecological notes and macro- and microscopic feature of basidiocarps of this fungus are presented. Additionally, the current distribution of H. cruenta in Poland comprising 78 localities is provided. The rank of H. cruenta among threatened species categories in different European countries is discussed. It seems that the species is rare and threatened in Poland, and it should be still classified as “vulnerable” on the red list of macrofungi. The significance of H. cruenta for diversity of mycobiota and the necessity of further research on the dynamic of occurrence of H. cruenta inside and outside of the natural range of A. alba is underlined

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities on seedlings and conspecific trees of Pinus mugo grown on the coastal dunes of the Curonian Spit in Lithuania

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities of mature trees and regenerating seedlings of a non-native tree species Pinus mugo grown in a harsh environment of the coastal region of the Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania were assessed. We established three study sites (S1, S2, and S3) that were separated from each other by 15 km. The ECM species richness was rather low in particular for mature, 100-year-old trees: 12 ectomycorrhizal taxa were identified by molecular analysis from 11 distinguished morphotypes. All 12 taxa were present on seedlings and on mature trees, with between 8–11 and 9–11 taxa present on seedlings and mature trees, respectively. Cenococcum geophilum dominated all ECM communities, but the relative abundance of C. geophilum mycorrhizas was nearly two times higher on seedlings than on mature trees. Mycorrhizal associations formed by Wilcoxina sp., Lactarius rufus, and Russula paludosa were also abundant. Several fungal taxa were only occasionally detected, including Cortinarius sp., Cortinarius obtusus, Cortinarius croceus, and Meliniomyces sp. Shannon’s diversity indices for the ECM assemblages of P. mugo ranged from 0.98 to 1.09 for seedling and from 1.05 to 1.31 for mature trees. According to analysis of similarity, the mycorrhizal communities were similar between the sites (R = 0.085; P = 0.06) and only slightly separated between seedlings and mature trees (R = 0.24; P < 0.0001). An incidental fruiting body survey that was conducted weakly reflected the below-ground assessment of the ECM fungal community and once again showed that ECM and fruiting body studies commonly supply different partial accounts of the true ECM fungal diversity. Our results show that P. mugo has moved into quite distinct habitats and is able to adapt a suite of ECM symbionts that sufficiently support growth and development of this tree and allow for natural seedling regeneration

Biomass of external mycelium of ectomycorrhizal fungi in Norway spruce stands in Poland

Biomass of extramatrical mycorrhizal mycelium (EMM) was examined under canopies of mature Norway spruce trees grown in different forest stands in Poland. Two mountain forest sites (Brenna and Salmopol), one upland site (Zwierzyniec) and one lowland site (Mirachowo) have been investigated, using sand-filled mesh-bags method. The in-grow mesh-bags were buried in the soil for 12 months (since October up to the next October) or for 4 months (since June up to October) at four depths at each site: 5, 15, 30 and 45 cm (Brenna and Salmopol) or 60 cm (Zwierzyniec and Mirachowo). The mycelium biomass was estimated from the ergosterol content determined in the mesh-bags. The results indicated significant differences in EMM production and their vertical distribution between the mountain and the upland and lowland forest sites. The lowest EMM biomass was found at the experimental plot in the mountainious site Brenna. Considerable decrease of EMM biomass with the soil depth was recorded after 12 months of the mesh-bags incubation in soil in the upland and lowland sites, while in the mountain forests decrease of the EMM biomass in the lower soil depths diminished more gradually EMM biomass determined in the mesh-bags placed in soil at the upper 5 and 15 cm tended to be higher after 4 months than after 12 months of incubation period. Such results suggest that the time necessary for evaluation of EMM biomass in soil may be limited to the summer–autumn months, when the production of EMM is the highest. Variable stress factors can influence decreased ectomycorrhizal mycelium production and/or their destruction. Further research in different forest types and regions are needed for better understanding factors determining EMM biomass production and surviving in soil

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of native and non-native Pinus and Quercus species in a common garden of 35-year-old trees

Non-native tree species have been widely planted or have become naturalized in most forested landscapes. It is not clear if native trees species collectively differ in ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) diversity and communities from that of non-native tree species. Alternatively, EMF species community similarity may be more determined by host plant phylogeny than by whether the plant is native or non-native. We examined these unknowns by comparing two genera, native and non-native Quercus robur and Quercus rubra and native and non-native Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra in a 35-year-old common garden in Poland. Using molecular and morphological approaches, we identified EMF species from ectomycorrhizal root tips and sporocarps collected in the monoculture tree plots. A total of 69 EMF species were found, with 38 species collected only as sporocarps, 18 only as ectomycorrhizas, and 13 both as ectomycorrhizas and sporocarps. The EMF species observed were all native and commonly associated with a Holarctic range in distribution. We found that native Q. robur had ca. 120% higher total EMF species richness than the non-native Q. rubra, while native P. sylvestris had ca. 25% lower total EMF species richness than non-native P. nigra. Thus, across genera, there was no evidence that native species have higher EMF species diversity than exotic species. In addition, we found a higher similarity in EMF communities between the two Pinus species than between the two Quercus species. These results support the naturalization of non-native trees by means of mutualistic associations with cosmopolitan and novel fungi

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Assemblages of Nursery-Grown Scots Pine are Influenced by Age of the Seedlings

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most widely distributed pine species in Europe and is relevant in terms of planted areas and harvest yields. Therefore, each year the demand for planting stock of Scots pine is exceedingly high, and large quantities of seedlings are produced annually throughout Europe to carry out reforestation and afforestation programs. Abundant and diverse ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is critical for the success of seedlings once planted in the field. To improve our knowledge of ECM fungi that inhabit bare-root nursery stock of Scots pine and understand factors that influence their diversity, we studied the assemblages of ECM fungi present across 23 bare-root forest nurseries in Poland. Nursery stock samples were characterized by a high level of ECM colonization (nearly 100%), and a total of 29 ECM fungal taxa were found on 1- and 2-year-old seedlings. The diversity of the ECM community depended substantially on the nursery and age of the seedlings, and species richness varied from 3–10 taxa on 1-year-old seedlings and 6–13 taxa on 2-year-old seedlings. The ECM fungal communities that developed on the studied nursery stock were characterized by the prevalence of Ascomycota over Basidiomycota members on 1-year-old seedlings. All ecological indices (diversity, dominance, and evenness) were significantly affected by age of the seedlings, most likely because dominant ECM morphotypes on 1-year-old seedlings (Wilcoxina mikolae) were replaced by other dominant ones (e.g., Suillus luteus, Rhizopogon roseolus, Thelephora terrestris, Hebeloma crustuliniforme), mostly from Basidiomycota, on 2-year-old seedlings. Across all nurseries, negative correlations were identified for diversity metrics and soil N or C, indicating that mineral and organic fertilization contributes to the differences in the ECM fungal communities in nurseries. We discuss the ecological and practical implications of the composition and diversity of ECM fungi occurring on bare-root planting stock of Scots pine

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Assemblages of Nursery-Grown Scots Pine are Influenced by Age of the Seedlings

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most widely distributed pine species in Europe and is relevant in terms of planted areas and harvest yields. Therefore, each year the demand for planting stock of Scots pine is exceedingly high, and large quantities of seedlings are produced annually throughout Europe to carry out reforestation and afforestation programs. Abundant and diverse ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is critical for the success of seedlings once planted in the field. To improve our knowledge of ECM fungi that inhabit bare-root nursery stock of Scots pine and understand factors that influence their diversity, we studied the assemblages of ECM fungi present across 23 bare-root forest nurseries in Poland. Nursery stock samples were characterized by a high level of ECM colonization (nearly 100%), and a total of 29 ECM fungal taxa were found on 1- and 2-year-old seedlings. The diversity of the ECM community depended substantially on the nursery and age of the seedlings, and species richness varied from 3&ndash;10 taxa on 1-year-old seedlings and 6&ndash;13 taxa on 2-year-old seedlings. The ECM fungal communities that developed on the studied nursery stock were characterized by the prevalence of Ascomycota over Basidiomycota members on 1-year-old seedlings. All ecological indices (diversity, dominance, and evenness) were significantly affected by age of the seedlings, most likely because dominant ECM morphotypes on 1-year-old seedlings (Wilcoxina mikolae) were replaced by other dominant ones (e.g., Suillus luteus, Rhizopogon roseolus, Thelephora terrestris, Hebeloma crustuliniforme), mostly from Basidiomycota, on 2-year-old seedlings. Across all nurseries, negative correlations were identified for diversity metrics and soil N or C, indicating that mineral and organic fertilization contributes to the differences in the ECM fungal communities in nurseries. We discuss the ecological and practical implications of the composition and diversity of ECM fungi occurring on bare-root planting stock of Scots pine

Soil Microbial Biomass and Community Composition Relates to Poplar Genotypes and Environmental Conditions

Poplars, known for their diversity, are trees that can develop symbiotic relationships with several groups of microorganisms. The genetic diversity of poplars and different abiotic factors influence the properties of the soil and may shape microbial communities. Our study aimed to analyse the impact of poplar genotype on the biomass and community composition of the microbiome of four poplar genotypes grown under different soil conditions and soil depths. Of the three study sites, established in the mid-1990s, one was near a copper smelter, whereas the two others were situated in unpolluted regions, but were differentiated according to the physicochemical traits of the soil. The whole-cell fatty acid analysis was used to determine the biomass and proportions of gram-positive, gram-negative and actinobacteria, arbuscular fungi (AMF), other soil fungi, and protozoa in the whole microbial community in the soil. The results showed that the biomass of microorganisms and their contributions to the community of organisms in the soil close to poplar roots were determined by both factors: the tree-host genotype and the soil environment. However, each group of microorganisms was influenced by these factors to a different degree. In general, the site effect played the main role in shaping the microbial biomass (excluding actinobacteria), whereas tree genotype determined the proportions of the fungal and bacterial groups in the microbial communities and the proportion of AMF in the fungal community. Bacterial biomass was influenced more by site factors, whereas fungal biomass more by tree genotype. With increasing soil depth, a decrease in the biomass of all microorganisms was observed; however, the proportions of the different microorganisms within the soil profile were the result of interactions between the host genotype and soil conditions. Despite the predominant impact of soil conditions, our results showed the important role of poplar genotype in shaping microorganism communities in the soil