Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce

S. M. Velmala; T. Rajala; M. Haapanen; A. F.S. Taylor; T. Pennanen

doi:10.1007/s00572-012-0446-y

Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce

S. M. Velmala, T. Rajala, M. Haapanen, A. F.S. Taylor, T. Pennanen

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was used to study the effects of host genotype on short root formation and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community structure in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Rooted cuttings representing 55 clones were inoculated with a mix of vegetative hyphae of five ECM fungal species (Laccaria sp., Amphinema byssoides, Piloderma sp., Cadophora finlandia, Paxillus involutus). After one growing season, the ECM fungal community structure was determined by amplifying the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA directly from ECM root tips. Restriction profiles of obtained amplicons were then compared to those of the inoculated strains. Spruce clones differed in their ECM fungal community composition; we found a statistically significant clone-specific effect on ECM fungal diversity and dominating fungal species. Nevertheless, the broad sense heritabilities of the levels of Laccaria sp., Piloderma sp. and A. byssoides colonisations as well as the ECM fungal community structure were low (H² = 0. 04-0. 11), owing to the high within-clone variation. As nitrogen concentration of needles correlated negatively with ECM fungal richness, our results imply that in the experimental conditions nutrient acquisition of young trees may benefit from colonisation with only one or two ECM fungal species. The heritability of short root density was moderate (H² = 0. 41) and highest among all the measured shoot and root growth characteristics of Norway spruce cuttings. We suggest that the genetic component determining root growth and short root formation is significant for the performance of young trees in natural environments as these traits drive the formation of the below-ground symbiotic interactions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	21-33
Number of pages	13
Journal	Mycorrhiza
Volume	23
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-012-0446-y
Publication status	Published - Jan 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments This work was funded by the Academy of Finland (project number 128229). We would like to thank Forestry Engineer Sirkku Pöykkö and the staff of Haapastensyrjä nursery for providing the plant material, Dr. Trude Vrålstad for the fungal culture, M.Sc. Arja Tervahauta for the CHN-LECO analysis, and Dr Leena Hamberg for valuable statistical recommendations. We are also grateful for the assistance of Dr Tero Tuomivirta and the laboratory work of Irmeli Vuorinen, Minna Sinkkonen, Kaarina Pynnönen, Matias Häyrynen, Vesa Hautala, Adriana Villaverde Monar and Laura Hänninen.

Keywords

Broad sense heritability
Clonal cuttings
ECM fungi
Fine roots
Picea abies
Thelephora terrestris

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title = "Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce",

abstract = "A greenhouse experiment was used to study the effects of host genotype on short root formation and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community structure in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Rooted cuttings representing 55 clones were inoculated with a mix of vegetative hyphae of five ECM fungal species (Laccaria sp., Amphinema byssoides, Piloderma sp., Cadophora finlandia, Paxillus involutus). After one growing season, the ECM fungal community structure was determined by amplifying the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA directly from ECM root tips. Restriction profiles of obtained amplicons were then compared to those of the inoculated strains. Spruce clones differed in their ECM fungal community composition; we found a statistically significant clone-specific effect on ECM fungal diversity and dominating fungal species. Nevertheless, the broad sense heritabilities of the levels of Laccaria sp., Piloderma sp. and A. byssoides colonisations as well as the ECM fungal community structure were low (H2 = 0. 04-0. 11), owing to the high within-clone variation. As nitrogen concentration of needles correlated negatively with ECM fungal richness, our results imply that in the experimental conditions nutrient acquisition of young trees may benefit from colonisation with only one or two ECM fungal species. The heritability of short root density was moderate (H2 = 0. 41) and highest among all the measured shoot and root growth characteristics of Norway spruce cuttings. We suggest that the genetic component determining root growth and short root formation is significant for the performance of young trees in natural environments as these traits drive the formation of the below-ground symbiotic interactions.",

keywords = "Broad sense heritability, Clonal cuttings, ECM fungi, Fine roots, Picea abies, Thelephora terrestris",

author = "Velmala, {S. M.} and T. Rajala and M. Haapanen and Taylor, {A. F.S.} and T. Pennanen",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments This work was funded by the Academy of Finland (project number 128229). We would like to thank Forestry Engineer Sirkku P{\"o}ykk{\"o} and the staff of Haapastensyrj{\"a} nursery for providing the plant material, Dr. Trude Vr{\aa}lstad for the fungal culture, M.Sc. Arja Tervahauta for the CHN-LECO analysis, and Dr Leena Hamberg for valuable statistical recommendations. We are also grateful for the assistance of Dr Tero Tuomivirta and the laboratory work of Irmeli Vuorinen, Minna Sinkkonen, Kaarina Pynn{\"o}nen, Matias H{\"a}yrynen, Vesa Hautala, Adriana Villaverde Monar and Laura H{\"a}nninen.",

year = "2013",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1007/s00572-012-0446-y",

language = "English",

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pages = "21--33",

journal = "Mycorrhiza",

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T1 - Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce

AU - Velmala, S. M.

AU - Rajala, T.

AU - Haapanen, M.

AU - Taylor, A. F.S.

AU - Pennanen, T.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments This work was funded by the Academy of Finland (project number 128229). We would like to thank Forestry Engineer Sirkku Pöykkö and the staff of Haapastensyrjä nursery for providing the plant material, Dr. Trude Vrålstad for the fungal culture, M.Sc. Arja Tervahauta for the CHN-LECO analysis, and Dr Leena Hamberg for valuable statistical recommendations. We are also grateful for the assistance of Dr Tero Tuomivirta and the laboratory work of Irmeli Vuorinen, Minna Sinkkonen, Kaarina Pynnönen, Matias Häyrynen, Vesa Hautala, Adriana Villaverde Monar and Laura Hänninen.

PY - 2013/1

Y1 - 2013/1

N2 - A greenhouse experiment was used to study the effects of host genotype on short root formation and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community structure in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Rooted cuttings representing 55 clones were inoculated with a mix of vegetative hyphae of five ECM fungal species (Laccaria sp., Amphinema byssoides, Piloderma sp., Cadophora finlandia, Paxillus involutus). After one growing season, the ECM fungal community structure was determined by amplifying the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA directly from ECM root tips. Restriction profiles of obtained amplicons were then compared to those of the inoculated strains. Spruce clones differed in their ECM fungal community composition; we found a statistically significant clone-specific effect on ECM fungal diversity and dominating fungal species. Nevertheless, the broad sense heritabilities of the levels of Laccaria sp., Piloderma sp. and A. byssoides colonisations as well as the ECM fungal community structure were low (H2 = 0. 04-0. 11), owing to the high within-clone variation. As nitrogen concentration of needles correlated negatively with ECM fungal richness, our results imply that in the experimental conditions nutrient acquisition of young trees may benefit from colonisation with only one or two ECM fungal species. The heritability of short root density was moderate (H2 = 0. 41) and highest among all the measured shoot and root growth characteristics of Norway spruce cuttings. We suggest that the genetic component determining root growth and short root formation is significant for the performance of young trees in natural environments as these traits drive the formation of the below-ground symbiotic interactions.

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KW - Fine roots

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KW - Thelephora terrestris

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Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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