Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities Associated with Dominant Tree Species in a Subarctic Limestone Area

Abstract

Limestone soils are stressful for plant growth. Plant-associated ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may promote plant growth under stressful conditions, yet available information on ECM fungi in limestone areas is scarce. We investigated the ECM fungal communities associated with dominant tree species in a subarctic limestone area. We aimed to determine whether the ECM species differed between calcareous and non-calcareous areas, and the distribution property common to ECM fungi in limestone areas. Morphological characterization and DNA sequencing of root tips identified 57 ECM taxa. The ECM fungal compositions in the calcareous area differed from those in the non-calcareous area, even when comparisons were made between fungi on the same tree species. Rather, when ECM species were grouped at the genus level, they tended to be dissimilar between calcareous areas and between non-calcareous areas. Especially, Tomentella spp. and Sebacina spp. tended to be present more frequently in calcareous areas, while Cenococcum geophilum and Russula spp. tended to be present more frequently in non-calcareous areas.