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Acquisition of host-derived carbon in biomass of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus is correlated to fungal carbon demand and plant defences

Journal Article · · FEMS Microbiology Ecology (Online)
Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are key players in forest carbon (C) sequestration, receiving a substantial proportion of photosynthetic C from their forest tree hosts in exchange for plant growth-limiting soil nutrients. However, it remains unknown whether the fungus or plant controls the quantum of C in this exchange, nor what mechanisms are involved. Here, we aimed to identify physiological and genetic properties of both partners that influence ECM C transfer. Using a microcosm system, stable isotope tracing, and transcriptomics, we quantified plant-to-fungus C transfer between the host plant Eucalyptus grandis and nine isolates of the ECM fungus Pisolithus microcarpus that range in their mycorrhization potential and investigated fungal growth characteristics and plant and fungal genes that correlated with C acquisition. We found that C acquisition by P. microcarpus correlated positively with both fungal biomass production and the expression of a subset of fungal C metabolism genes. In the plant, C transfer was not positively correlated to the number of colonized root tips, but rather to the expression of defence- and stress-related genes. These findings suggest that C acquisition by ECM fungi involves individual fungal demand for C and defence responses of the host against C drain.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); USDOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Australian Research Council; USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1971150
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2283383
Journal Information:
FEMS Microbiology Ecology (Online), Journal Name: FEMS Microbiology Ecology (Online) Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 99; ISSN 1574-6941
Publisher:
Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Netherlands
Language:
English

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