Root-Colonizing Endophytic Fungi of the Dominant Grass Stipa krylovii From a Mongolian Steppe Grassland

In several terrestrial ecosystems such as grasslands, plants live together with various root-colonizing dark septate endophytes (DSEs), fungi that are relatively frequent colonizers of healthy belowground tissues of plants in these environments. They are important members of the plant microbiota and may have various effects on plant survival under different stress conditions; however, their general functions in relation to plants and the greater ecosystem remain elusive. Although an increasing number of studies has been published focusing on DSEs in Asian grasslands, our knowledge is limited. Especially in Mongolia, where the steppe region represents a significant area, information is not available on these root colonizers. In this study, we aimed to characterize DSEs of a common dominant gramineous plant species, Stipa krylovii in a semiarid grassland of Mongolia. Root samples were collected in a natural steppe and were processed for isolation of fungal endophytes. For molecular identification of the isolates, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nrDNA was obtained for all the isolates investigated; furthermore, the partial translation elongation factor 1-a (TEF) gene and large subunit (LSU) and small subunit (SSU) of rDNA were also amplified and sequenced in case of representative isolates. In vitro tests were used to examine the rough symbiotic nature of the fungi, and root colonization was visualized. A majority of the 135 isolates examined in detail was found to belong to several orders of Ascomycota (110 isolates) and some to Basidiomycota (25 isolates). A significant number of the isolates represented presumably novel taxa, and dominant similarities of the lineages have been found with relatively frequent and known grass root endophytes of semiarid areas in other geographic regions. These endophytes included Periconia macrospinosa, Microdochium bolley, and Darksidea, the genus of which comprised one fourth of the isolates. We found numerous lineages, which have been detected not only from Asian steppe ecosystems, but also from prairies in North America and sandy grasslands in Europe. Therefore, our results strengthen the hypothesized worldwide presence of a common and dominant core group of a DSE community in arid and semiarid grasslands

A Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus, Acaulospora scrobiculata Stimulated Growth of Mongolian Crested Wheatgrass ( Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.)

Agr opyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (crested wheatgrass) is an endemic plant species, which dominates most area of the Mongolian steppe and forest steppe. In the present study, spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil of crested wheatgrass were isolated with wet- sieving/decanting methods, and the major species was identifi ed as Acaulospora scrobiculata Trappe. For arbuscular-mycorrhizal resynthesis, the spores of A. scrobiculata were propagated with corn pot-culture technique and inoculated onto the roots of crested wheatgrass seedlings. The inoculated crested wheatgrass seedlings exhibited vigor in growth, and examination of the root structure revealed the occurrence of arbuscules and vesicles in the cortical cells. These results demonstrated that A. scrobiculata could effectively form arbuscular mycorrhizas with crested wheatgrass and promote its growth, which can be used to restore Mongolian grassland

Comparison of Root Surface Enzyme Activity of Ericaceous Plants and Picea abies Growing at the Tree Line in the Austrian Alps

Plants with ericoid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal associations coexist at the tree line and in many boreal forests. Both ericoid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal roots are known to produce extracellular enzymes, but ericoid mycorrhizal fungi have been demonstrated in vitro to have higher enzyme activities. On hair roots of four ericoid mycorrhizal species (Rhododendron ferrugineum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Calluna vulgaris) and on ectomycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal root tips of Picea abies growing at the tree line (1700 m) in the Austrian Alps, potential activities of eight extracellular root enzymes were estimated. Our results show that the activities of all the different extracellular root enzymes were generally similar among the ericaceous plant species. The mean laccase enzyme activity of ectomycorrhizal root tips of Picea abies was significantly higher than that of both the hair roots and fine roots of the ericaceous species. Leucine-amino-peptidase activity on hair roots was significantly higher than on non-mycorrhizal fine roots for the ericaceous vegetation. However, the mean activity of β-glucuronidase of the ericaceous species was significantly higher in fine roots compared to the hair roots. Generally extracellular root enzyme activity is not higher on ericaceous roots compared to ectomycorrhizas of Picea abies

Winter soils of Mongolian forests have viable ectomycorrhizas and soil enzymatic activity

In forests in Mongolia, tree roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi must survive several months of soil freezing in winter. To investigate the ectomycorrhizal community after winter, we collected fine roots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) and associated soil from Nukht forest in the Bogd-Khan National Reserve, Mongolia. Soil samples were collected from frozen soil at the end of April 2016. We described the ectomycorrhizal community, and determined on ectomycorrhizal roots tips and in soils the potential activity of enzymes involved in the degradation of soil organic matter. In order to assess the temperature sensitivity of enzyme activity, potential soil enzyme activities were assayed at temperatures from 5 to 20 degrees C. We detected 24 different ectomycorrhizal morphotypes associated with Pinus sylvestris and Pinus sibirica, and 18 morphotypes were identified to taxa. The two Pinus species had dissimilar ectomycorrhizal communities, and only 2 ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa were common to both species. Most ectomycorrhizal taxa had measurable activity of at least one extracellular enzyme. A high contribution to the community extracellular enzyme activity was shown for both abundant and less abundant taxa. Among the eight tested soil enzymes, only the activity of leucine amino peptidase showed consistent higher Q(10) values at 5-15 degrees C than at 10-20 degrees C, suggesting that the enzyme is adapted to colder temperatures. Total soil N was the strongest factor explaining differences in soil enzyme potential activity. A positive relationship was found between soil N and the soil potential enzyme activity of acid phosphatase. We suggest that viable ectomycorrhizas during winter provide an advantage to Pinus sibirica and Pinus sylvestris in acquiring nutrients as soil thaws in spring

Final technical report : blended technology education program; using technology to level education playing field in Mongolia", January 15, 2009 - January 15, 2010

Attachment 5 and accompanying documents not includedThe project aimed to test whether good quality education content in computer science and English language training, can be delivered to children, especially to those who lack high quality educational resources, using the most recent development of technologies in the context of Mongolia- where 35% of the population is under the age of 18. Results revealed a clear impact on student performance, learning, interest, and skill development. Often children in rural and peri-urban areas lack critical information, guidance and counselling on career choice, social mobility, graduation and entrance examinations