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Plasticity of symbiotroph-saprotroph lifestyles of Piloderma croceum associated with Quercus robur L

Summary

This research reveals that a common forest fungus called Piloderma croceum can switch between two different lifestyles: breaking down dead wood to obtain nutrients, and forming beneficial partnerships with living oak tree roots. The study shows that dead wood colonized by this fungus serves as a natural ‘seed bank’ for these fungi, allowing them to later colonize new trees. This discovery suggests that protecting deadwood in forests may indirectly help forests grow healthier by supporting the fungi that help trees absorb nutrients.

Background

Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are commonly found in both living tree roots and deadwood, but their potential dual roles as symbiotrophs and saprotrophs remain debated. Deadwood has been detected as harboring diverse EM fungal communities, yet the capacity of EM fungi to function as saprotrophs in deadwood and subsequently transition to symbiotic relationships is unclear.

Objective

This study investigated the plasticity of symbiotrophic-saprotrophic lifestyles in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Piloderma croceum associated with Quercus robur L. The research aimed to determine if P. croceum can colonize oak deadwood independently and subsequently establish mycorrhizal symbiosis with living oak roots.

Results

P. croceum efficiently colonized oak deadwood substrates (100% in bark, 84.6% in complete wood) and produced hydrolytic enzymes (β-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase). Carbon isotope analysis confirmed wood carbon assimilation by fungal mycelium. Oak plants exposed to P. croceum-colonized deadwood developed true ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with Hartig net formation and significantly greater biomass than non-inoculated controls.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that P. croceum exhibits plasticity between saprotrophic and symbiotrophic lifestyles, establishing deadwood as an underestimated EM fungal propagule bank. Deadwood colonized by EM fungi may indirectly enhance forest productivity by facilitating mycorrhizal fungus recruitment and improving plant nutrient acquisition.
  • Published in:Communications Biology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40957907, DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08762-w
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