Structural diversity across arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal, and endophytic plant-fungus networks.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Below-ground linkage between plant and fungal communities is one of the major drivers of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics. However, we still have limited knowledge of how such plant-fungus associations vary in their community-scale properties depending on fungal functional groups and geographic locations.

Methods

By compiling a high-throughput sequencing dataset of root-associated fungi in eight forests along the Japanese Archipelago, we performed a comparative analysis of arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal, and saprotrophic/endophytic associations across a latitudinal gradient from cool-temperate to subtropical regions.

Results

In most of the plant-fungus networks analyzed, host-symbiont associations were significantly specialized but lacked "nested" ar

SUBMITTER: Toju H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6249749 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature