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Fungal Interactions Matter: Tricholoma matsutake Domination Affect Fungal Diversity and Function in Mountain Forest Soils

Summary

This research examines how the commercially valuable mushroom Tricholoma matsutake influences other fungi in forest soils. The study found that T. matsutake creates a unique soil environment that reduces overall fungal diversity but maintains specific beneficial relationships with certain fungi. This research has several everyday implications: • Helps improve cultivation methods for valuable edible mushrooms • Provides insights into sustainable forest management practices • Advances understanding of how fungi interact in natural ecosystems • Contributes to conservation of economically important mushroom species • Informs soil health management in forestry and agriculture

Background

Tricholoma matsutake forms symbiotic associations with coniferous trees, developing mycelial aggregations called ‘shiro’ which are characterized by distinct chemical and physical properties from nearby forest bulk soil. The fungal diversity in shiro soil plays key roles in nutrient cycles for this economically important mushroom, but has not been well studied across large spatial and environmental gradients.

Objective

To study the fungal characteristics in bulk soil (non-shiro) and shiro of T. matsutake using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and Illumina sequencing across variable habitats in southwestern China. The study aimed to understand how T. matsutake influences rhizosphere microbiome patterns between shiro and non-shiro soil, and examine fungal community structure similarities across forest types due to T. matsutake domination.

Results

T. matsutake caused significantly lower fungal diversity and simplified fungal community composition in shiro soil compared to non-shiro soil across five forest types. Fungal diversity was negatively correlated with T. matsutake abundance. The fungal community in shiro showed similar species composition regardless of forest type. Specific fungi like Oidiodendron showed positive correlation with T. matsutake, while Helotiales and Mortierella showed negative correlation.

Conclusion

T. matsutake generates a dominance effect that shapes fungal community and diversity in shiro soil across different forest types. The associated fungal communities were selected not only by T. matsutake dominance but also by local soil properties and plant diversity. Multiple symbiotic relationships exist between microbes and T. matsutake, forming distinct fungal communities based on resource competition and nutrient strategies.
  • Published in:Biology (Basel),
  • Study Type:Field Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/biology10101051
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