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Fungal Hyphosphere Microbiomes Are Distinct from Surrounding Substrates and Show Consistent Association Patterns

Summary

This research examines how fungi in soil create special environments called fungal mats that host specific types of bacteria. These fungal-bacterial partnerships are important for soil health and ecosystem functioning. The study found that certain bacteria consistently live within these fungal mats across different locations worldwide, suggesting important relationships between fungi and bacteria in soil environments. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps understand how soil organisms contribute to plant growth and forest health • Provides insights into natural processes that maintain soil fertility • Could lead to applications in agriculture and soil management • May help develop new approaches for environmental conservation • Contributes to understanding how beneficial microorganisms interact in nature

Background

Mat-forming fungi are common in forest and grassland soils worldwide, where they contribute to important soil ecological processes. These fungi maintain dominance through aggressive and abundant hyphae that modify their internal physical and chemical environments, selecting for what appears to be a suite of mycophilic bacteria. The dense concentration of biomass within fungal mats attracts and supports diverse soil invertebrates and microbial organisms that perform many biogeochemical transformations of nutrients in forest soils.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the bacteria associated with fungal mats of Leucopaxillus gentianeus and Leucopaxillus albissimus from western North America to adjacent nonmat substrates, and to determine if there are consistent bacterial associates across different fungal mat systems worldwide.

Results

Within the fungal mats, bacterial richness and diversity were significantly reduced, and community composition was significantly different from nonmat substrates. The genera Burkholderia, Streptomyces, Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Mycobacterium were significantly abundant within the fungal mats and represent core members of these hypha-rich environments. Comparison with worldwide fungal mat studies showed these genera are commonly found within fungal mats.

Conclusion

The study revealed consistent patterns of bacterial diversity and composition in fungal mats, clearly defining genera of mycophilic bacteria. Fungal mat colonization typically reduced fungal and bacterial diversity while significantly shifting community composition. The consistent presence of specific bacterial genera, particularly Burkholderia, reinforces the concept of a mycophilic bacterial guild and suggests intimate associations between fungi and bacteria in soil environments.
  • Published in:Microbiology Spectrum,
  • Study Type:Field Study,
  • Source: 10.1128/spectrum.04708-22
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