Convergence of root ectomycorrhizal fungal communities across Pinaceae developmental stages in temperate forests in northeastern China.

ABSTRACT: Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are crucial for the development of temperate forests. We conducted a field study via a "space-for-time" approach to investigate root EMF succession across saplings, juveniles, and adults of four Pinaceae species in northeastern China. By high-throughput sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer 2 region, we cataloged 1,641 EMF amplicon sequence variants. As Pinaceae matured, EMF alpha diversity notably increased, while their Bray-Curtis dissimilarity significantly decreased. A random forest algorithm identified stage-specific taxa, marking the age-related transition from structural divergence to similarity in root EMF communities. EMF genera Amphinema and Suillus dominated in Pinaceae saplings, while Piloderma, Russula,

SUBMITTER: Zhao D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12180968 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature