FROM THE NURSERY TO THE FIELD: A STORY ABOUT ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGAL COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH NOTHOFAGUS ALPINA (RAULÍ)

FERNÁNDEZ NATALIA; MARCHELLI PAULA; FONTENLA SONIA

Bariloche

Simposio; II International Symposium: Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in South America; 2019

UNComahue - IPATEC - INIBIOMA - CONICET

Due to its high timber quality and ecological importance, Nothofagus alpina (raulí) is currently included in conservation and domestication programs, in which ectomycorrhizas (EcM) play an important role. The aim of this work was to analyze the abundance and diversity of EcM associated with N. alpina in: 1) nursery cultivated seedlings, 2) domesticated specimens established under a native forest or 3) under a Pinus plantation, and 4) naturally established plants. The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) was also investigated. EcM colonization was estimated according to Grand and Harvey, and diversity of EcM fungi (EcMF) was assessed by morphotyping and subsequent sequencing. First, a 2-year trial was conducted following the conditions used for domestication programs. Seedlings were grown in the forest nursery under two different practices: greenhouse (2 years) and greenhouse (1 year) + flowerbed (1 year). It was observed that they naturally developed EcM 6-12 months after germination. The most abundant EcMF were Tomentella ellisii (Basidiomycota) and an unidentified ascomycetous fungi. However, the abundance and diversity of EcMF varied between the cultivation techniques. Seedlings grown in the greenhouse had higher colonization rates than those transplanted into the flowerbed, but the last were colonized by a higher diversity of EcMF. With respect to the domesticated specimens subsequently established in the field, we observed that the abundance and diversity of EcMF were significantly higher in the individuals stablished in the native forest than in those located in the Pinus plantation. In the native forest, EcMF communities were similar between the domesticated N. alpina specimens and the naturally established plants. Most of the EcMF were basidiomycetes, belonging mainly to the Cortinariaceae and Tricholomataceae. Significant differences regarding plant age (seedlings/young plants/mature trees), seasonality (autumn/spring) and forest management (occurrence/type) were also observed and will be discussed. Common fungal species were not found between the native forest and the Pinus plantation, or between these environments and the nursery. AM were not present within N. alpina roots. These results improve our understanding of the key factors affecting EcMF communities associated with Nothofagus under nursery and natural conditions. This information is relevant not only from an ecological point of view, but also from an applied perspective because it can be used for improving conservation and domestication programs.