Effects of Element Complexes Containing Fe, Zn and Mn on Artificial Morel’s Biological Characteristics and Soil Bacterial Community Structures

Author: mycolabadmin
2017-03-28
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Summary

This research investigated how different mineral elements affect the growth of morel mushrooms and the bacterial communities in the soil where they grow. The findings show that adding specific combinations of iron, zinc, and manganese can improve morel mushroom production and influence beneficial soil bacteria. Impacts on everyday life: • Better understanding of how to grow morel mushrooms commercially could make these expensive mushrooms more widely available and affordable • Insights into soil bacterial communities could help improve sustainable agriculture practices • Knowledge of mineral uptake by mushrooms could help develop more nutritious food products • Understanding of soil-fungal interactions could aid in natural farming methods • Potential applications for improving cultivation of other valuable mushroom species

Background

Morchella spp (morel) is highly prized for its medicinal and nutritional qualities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, as well as immune system strengthening properties. While indoor cultivation of morels was first reported by Ower, large-scale application had not been achieved until 2010. Soil microbes are known to be important for promoting primordial differentiation and ascocarp growth in morels, but little is known about how soils and trace elements affect morel development.

Objective

To investigate the effects of trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn and their complexes) on morel mycelia growth rates, yield and soil bacterial community structures. The study aimed to discover relationships among trace elements, yield and bacteria, and determine whether trace elements or bacteria affect morel development.

Results

Groups containing Mn significantly promoted mycelia growth rates. All experimental groups had higher yields than the control. Seven dominant bacterial phyla were identified: Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroides, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Nitrospirae. The Zn·Fe group showed an unexpectedly high proportion (75.49%) of Proteobacteria during primordial differentiation, with Pseudomonas occupying 5.52%. Trace elements affected both morel yields and soil bacterial community structures.

Conclusion

Trace elements affect not only mycelia and sclerotia growth, yields and mineral contents of ascocarp, but also bacterial community structures. The presence of certain bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas, may contribute to improved ascocarp yield. Further research should focus on determining which microbes directly or indirectly affect ascocarp yield to advance morel cultivation.

Published in:PLOS One,
Study Type:Experimental Study,
Source: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174618