Effects of mycorrhizal types and root traits of tree species on rhizosphere microbial network complexity

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2024.0001

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The rhizosphere microbial network characteristics profoundly influence various ecological processes including soil carbon turnover, nutrient cycling and plant growth. Mycorrhizal types and root traits are crucial factors that affect plant growth and soil nutrient acquisition strategies. However, it is currently unclear how the root characteristics of different mycorrhizal tree species affect the topological structure of the rhizosphere microbial network.

Methods The present study focused on the secondary forest and investigated the root traits and rhizosphere soil microorganisms of five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tree species and seven ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree species to explore the impacts of mycorrhizal types on root traits and rhizosphere microbial network characteristics.

Important findings (1) Specific root length, root nitrogen, and root phosphorus contents of AM tree species were all higher than those of EcM tree species, while root tissue density, root diameter and root nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio showed no significant differences between the two mycorrhizal types. (2) The relative abundance of Rozellomycota in the rhizosphere of AM tree species was significantly higher than that of EcM tree species, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidota was significantly lower in AM tree species compared to EcM tree species. There was no significant difference in the biodiversity of rhizosphere microbial communities between different mycorrhizal type tree species. (3) The rhizosphere microbial networks of EcM tree species were more complex, and the negative bacterial cohesions of EcM tree species were significantly stronger than AM tree species. (4) The specific root length of AM tree species and the root diameter and root nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio of EcM tree species were identified as key factors predicting rhizosphere microbial network. These findings suggest that the mycorrhizal type of tree species significantly influences root traits such as specific root length and nutrient content to regulate the relationship between root traits and rhizosphere microbial communities and microbial network complexity.

Key words: mycorrhizal types, root traits, stoichiometry, microbial co-occurrence network

GUO Li-Qi, YAN Xiao-Lei, CAO Lei, GAO Jing, LIU Rui-Qiang, ZHOU Xu-Hui. Effects of mycorrhizal types and root traits of tree species on rhizosphere microbial network complexity[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(4): 573-584.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2024.0001

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2025/V49/I4/573

Figures/Tables 7

Table 1 DBH of collected tree species (mean ± SE)

树种 Tree species	拉丁名 Latin name	菌根类型 Mycorrhizal type	胸径 DBH (cm)
卫矛	Euonymus alatus	丛枝根菌 AM	2.87 ± 0.12
青楷槭	Acer tegmentosum	丛枝根菌 AM	5.93 ± 1.05
色木槭	Acer mono	外生根菌 EcM	7.17 ± 3.67
春榆	Ulmus davidiana var. japonica	外生根菌 EcM	14.43 ± 3.13
红松	Pinus koraiensis	外生根菌 EcM	16.02 ± 2.97
白桦	Betula platyphylla	外生根菌 EcM	21.02 ± 1.25
落叶松	Larix gmelinii	外生根菌 EcM	24.17 ± 3.10
黄檗	Phellodendron amurense	丛枝根菌 AM	25.91 ± 1.28
胡桃楸	Juglans mandshurica	丛枝根菌 AM	27.08 ± 3.17
山杨	Populus davidiana	外生根菌 EcM	32.01 ± 5.17
蒙古栎	Quercus mongolica	外生根菌 EcM	32.23 ± 4.00
水曲柳	Fraxinus mandshurica	丛枝根菌 AM	36.20 ± 1.38

Fig. 1 Root traits among 12 tree species and the effect of mycorrhizal types on root traits (mean ± SE). AM, arbuscular mycorrhiza; EcM, ectomycorrhiza; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus. Am, Acer mono; AT, Acer tegmentosum; BP, Betula platyphylla; EA, Euonymus alatus; FM, Fraxinus mandshurica; JM, Juglans mandshurica; LG, Larix gmelinii; PA, Phellodendron amurense; PD, Populus davidiana; PK, Pinus koraiensis; UD, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica; QM, Quercus mongolica. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different tree species (p < 0.05). The percentage in parentheses represent the coefficient of variation on different mycorrhizal tree species; * indicate the significance levels of mycorrhizal type effects in the mixed effects model: **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.

Fig. 2 Microbial community composition between different mycorrhizal types of tree species (mean ± SE). * indicates a significant difference in relative abundance between mycorrhizal types (p < 0.05). AM, arbuscular mycorrhiza; EcM, ectomycorrhiza.

Fig. 3 Microbial diversity between different mycorrhizal types of tree species (mean ± SE). AM, arbuscular mycorrhiza; EcM, ectomycorrhiza. Am, Acer mono; AT, Acer tegmentosum; BP, Betula platyphylla; EA, Euonymus alatus; FM, Fraxinus mandshurica; JM, Juglans mandshurica; LG, Larix gmelinii; PA, Phellodendron amurense; PD, Populus davidiana; PK, Pinus koraiensis; UD, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica; QM, Quercus mongolica. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different tree species (p < 0.05).

Fig. 4 Microbial network between different mycorrhizal types of tree species. The size of points indicates the degree of microbial taxonomies. AM, arbuscular mycorrhiza; EcM, ectomycorrhiza.

Fig. 5 Microbial community complexity between different mycorrhizal types of tree species (mean ± SE). AM, arbuscular mycorrhiza; EcM, ectomycorrhiza. Am, Acer mono; AT, Acer tegmentosum; BP, Betula platyphylla; EA, Euonymus alatus; FM, Fraxinus mandshurica; JM, Juglans mandshurica; LG, Larix gmelinii; PA, Phellodendron amurense; PD, Populus davidiana; PK, Pinus koraiensis; UD, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica; QM, Quercus mongolica. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different tree species (p < 0.05); * represents a significant mycorrhizal type effect in the mixed effects model (p < 0.05).

Table 2 Relationship among microbial biodiversity, community complexity and root traits between different mycorrhizal types of tree species

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