Growing evidence for facultative biotrophy in saprotrophic fungi: data from microcosm tests with 201 species of wood‐decay basidiomycetes. Issue 2 (6th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Gabriel R.; Finlay, Roger D.; Stenlid, Jan; Vasaitis, Rimvydas; Menkis, Audrius
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 215:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 747
• Page End: 755
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06
• Subjects: biotrophy–saprotrophy continuum -- ectomycorrhizal (ECM) evolution -- facultative biotrophy -- Picea abies -- Pinus sylvestris -- plant–fungus interaction -- saprotrophic fungi -- symbiosis; Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.14551
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

Summary: Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses have evolved a minimum of 78 times independently from saprotrophic lineages, indicating the potential for functional overlap between ECM and saprotrophic fungi. ECM fungi have the capacity to decompose organic matter, and although there is increasing evidence that some saprotrophic fungi exhibit the capacity to enter into facultative biotrophic relationships with plant roots without causing disease symptoms, this subject is still not well studied. In order to determine the extent of biotrophic capacity in saprotrophic wood‐decay fungi and which systems may be useful models, we investigated the colonization of conifer seedling roots in vitro using an array of 201 basidiomycete wood‐decay fungi. Microtome sectioning, differential staining and fluorescence microscopy were used to visualize patterns of root colonization in microcosm systems containing Picea abies or Pinus sylvestris seedlings and each saprotrophic fungus. Thirty‐four (16.9%) of the tested fungal species colonized the roots of at least one tree species. Two fungal species showed formation of a mantle and one showed Hartig net‐like structures. These features suggest the possibility of an active functional symbiosis between fungus and plant. The data indicate that the capacity for facultative biotrophic relationships in free‐living saprotrophic basidiomycetes may be greater than previously supposed. Abstract : See also the Commentary on this article by Baldrian & Kohout, 215 : 511–513 .