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Partner specificity in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis
  • +15
  • Leho Tedersoo,
  • Rein Drenkhan,
  • Kessy Abarenkov,
  • Sten Anslan,
  • Mohammad Bahram,
  • Krišs Bitenieks,
  • Franz Buegger,
  • Daniyal Gohar,
  • Niloufar Doust,
  • Darta Klavina,
  • Kristaps Makovskis,
  • Austra Zuševica,
  • Karin Pritsch,
  • Allar Padari,
  • Sergei Põlme,
  • Saleh Rahimlou,
  • Dainis Rungis,
  • Vladimir Mikryukov
Leho Tedersoo
University of Tartu

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Rein Drenkhan
Estonian University of Life Sciences
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Kessy Abarenkov
University of Tartu
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Sten Anslan
Institution of Ecology and Earth Sciences
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Mohammad Bahram
University of Tartu
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Krišs Bitenieks
Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava
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Franz Buegger
Helmholtz Zentrum München Institut für Biochemische Pflanzenpathologie
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Daniyal Gohar
University of Tartu
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Niloufar Doust
University of Tartu
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Darta Klavina
Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava
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Kristaps Makovskis
Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava
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Austra Zuševica
Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava
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Karin Pritsch
Helmholtz Zentrum München Institut für Biochemische Pflanzenpathologie
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Allar Padari
Estonian University of Life Sciences
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Sergei Põlme
University of Tartu
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Saleh Rahimlou
University of Tartu
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Dainis Rungis
Latvian Forest Research Institute
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Vladimir Mikryukov
University of Tartu
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Abstract

Partner specificity is a well-known phenomenon in biotic interactions, but little is known about biotic and abiotic factors that determine specificity in plant-fungal associations. Using PacBio sequencing of soils from monospecific and mixed forest stands, we determined the predictors driving partner specificity in both ectomycorrhizal plants and fungi. Fungal guilds differed strongly in the patterns of partner preference and avoidance, and specificity to particular tree genera. Specialist ectomycorrhizal fungi dominated in belowground communities, and most species preferred one of their partner trees - mostly at the plant genus level. Furthermore, all tree genera (sometimes species) displayed preference towards certain fungal groups. Partner specificity was unrelated to rarity of fungi or plants or environmental conditions except soil pH. Depending on partner taxon, specificity in fungi tended to increase with dominance and optimal pH of the partner tree genus and stand age. Partner tree richness and increased evenness of ectomycorrhizal fungi in multi-host communities promotes species richness. However, mainly partner-generalist fungi contribute to the high diversity in mixed forests. Our results further suggest that reforestation with mixed tree species promotes soil biodiversity, and that besides conserving mixed forests, protection of old pure stands may be particularly important for conserving partner-specific ectomycorrhizal fungi.