Determining the nutritional importance of common mycelial networks in a desert truffle mycorrhizal symbiosis for soil nitrogen redistribution

verfasst von: Alberto Andrino, Leopold Sauheitl, Georg Guggenberger, Jens Boy, Aline Fernandes Figueiredo, Francisco Arenas, Alfonso Navarro-Ródenas, José Eduardo Marqués-Gálvez, Asunción Morte
Abstract: In semi-arid soils, limited water and nitrogen (N) restrict biological activity and plant growth. As aridity increases, understanding mycorrhizae's role in supporting plant communities and mitigating desertification is critical, especially that of common mycelial networks (CMN) linking an individual fungus with roots of multiple plants of the same or different species, impacting establishment, succession, and resilience. Although CMN research has been extensive in temperate forests and grasslands, its importance in semi-arid environments is still uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether CMN shared by semi-arid-adapted plants can assist in redistributing N from nutrient-rich sites to poor ones. We hypothesize CMN are an essential mechanism responding to spatial soil nutrient heterogeneity in semi-arid areas, aiding plant establishment and survival. Complementary controlled experiments were conducted using compartmentalized mesocosms where only mycelia could mobilize nutrients, examining CMN ¹⁵N redistribution and whether plant age/size affects directionality. We used Helianthemum almeriense as the host plant forming an ectendomycorrhiza with the mycorrhizal fungus Terfezia claveryi. Experiments revealed ¹⁵N translocation to sink compartments at varying levels, with higher translocation where plants were present. Moreover, ¹⁵N contribution to plant N pools was significantly higher in 1-month-old seedlings versus adult plants. Under controlled conditions, hyphae appear as an effective conduit for N redistribution. The results provide initial evidence that CMN may help to redistribute N between rich and poor sites in semi-arid regions. Furthermore, the CMN may contribute to the survival of new mycorrhizal seedlings developing in desert truffle plantations or wild areas. This, in turn, advances knowledge on maintaining these ecosystems over time.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Bodenkunde
Externe Organisation(en): Universidad de Murcia
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Rhizosphere
Band: 34
Publikationsdatum: 11.03.2025
Publikationsstatus: Elektronisch veröffentlicht (E-Pub)
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Agronomie und Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften, Bodenkunde, Pflanzenkunde
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101055 (Zugang: Offen)

BibTeX

@article{4cca0e24b316417fb94d1951f094c5df,
title = "Determining the nutritional importance of common mycelial networks in a desert truffle mycorrhizal symbiosis for soil nitrogen redistribution",
abstract = "In semi-arid soils, limited water and nitrogen (N) restrict biological activity and plant growth. As aridity increases, understanding mycorrhizae's role in supporting plant communities and mitigating desertification is critical, especially that of common mycelial networks (CMN) linking an individual fungus with roots of multiple plants of the same or different species, impacting establishment, succession, and resilience. Although CMN research has been extensive in temperate forests and grasslands, its importance in semi-arid environments is still uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether CMN shared by semi-arid-adapted plants can assist in redistributing N from nutrient-rich sites to poor ones. We hypothesize CMN are an essential mechanism responding to spatial soil nutrient heterogeneity in semi-arid areas, aiding plant establishment and survival. Complementary controlled experiments were conducted using compartmentalized mesocosms where only mycelia could mobilize nutrients, examining CMN 15N redistribution and whether plant age/size affects directionality. We used Helianthemum almeriense as the host plant forming an ectendomycorrhiza with the mycorrhizal fungus Terfezia claveryi. Experiments revealed 15N translocation to sink compartments at varying levels, with higher translocation where plants were present. Moreover, 15N contribution to plant N pools was significantly higher in 1-month-old seedlings versus adult plants. Under controlled conditions, hyphae appear as an effective conduit for N redistribution. The results provide initial evidence that CMN may help to redistribute N between rich and poor sites in semi-arid regions. Furthermore, the CMN may contribute to the survival of new mycorrhizal seedlings developing in desert truffle plantations or wild areas. This, in turn, advances knowledge on maintaining these ecosystems over time.",
keywords = "Common mycelial network CMN, Desert truffle, Helianthemum, Mycorrhiza, Nitrogen, Terfezia",
author = "Alberto Andrino and Leopold Sauheitl and Georg Guggenberger and Jens Boy and Figueiredo, {Aline Fernandes} and Francisco Arenas and Alfonso Navarro-R{\'o}denas and Marqu{\'e}s-G{\'a}lvez, {Jos{\'e} Eduardo} and Asunci{\'o}n Morte",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",
year = "2025",
month = mar,
day = "11",
doi = "10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101055",
language = "English",
volume = "34",
journal = "Rhizosphere",
issn = "2452-2198",
publisher = "Elsevier BV",
}