IMBIV   05474
INSTITUTO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO DE BIOLOGIA VEGETAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Does climate or suitable ectomycorrhizal symbionts constrain pine expansion along an altitudinal gradient?
Autor/es:
URCELAY, CARLOS; LONGO, SILVANA; GEML, JOZSEF; TECCO, PAULA; NOUHRA, EDUARDO
Lugar:
Arizona
Reunión:
Congreso; 8th International Conference on Mycorrhiza; 2015
Resumen:
To succeed in habitats where ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are absent, pines need to co-invade with their fungal partners. In mountains from central Argentina there are no native ECM hosts, thus we cannot currently predict if climate and/or lack of compatible fungal symbionts constrain pine expansion from plantations toward distances and altitudes in which there are absent. We combined DNA meta-barcoding of soils and field experiments along an altitudinal gradient that is subjected to an incipient spread of exotic Pinus elliottii to assess a) whether fungal partners are present in soils at different altitudes and b) if pines can survive and form ectomycorrhizas at elevations outside of their current range. Three plots were selected at four sites along the altitudinal gradient (900, 1,600, 2,200, and 2,700 masl). They were established at approximately 110, 3,000, 6,000, and 9,000 m from the closest pine plantation, respectively. Eight seedlings were transplanted to each plot soil at each altitude. Plants were harvested in two stages (before and after winter). For soil analyses, a pine plantation close to the lowest site was also selected. Among the 31 ectomycorrhizal OTUs found in the pine plantation, 11 were found at other altitudes, indicating the presence of suitable fungal symbionts in the soil spore bank even at considerable distances from plantations. After five months (before winter), pine seedlings survived at all altitudes. At least one individual from 900, 1,600, and 2,200 was colonized by Suillus granulatus. Two individuals at 1,500 m asl were also colonized by Rhizopogon sp. and Thelephora terrestris. After 11 months, individuals also survived at all altitudes but only one individual at 1,500 masl showed colonization by Suillus granulatus. Our results show that pines can survive, find suitable fungal symbionts and form ectomycorrhizas at long distances from plantations and at elevations where they currently do not occur.