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

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autorschaft

Organisationseinheiten

Externe Organisationen

  • Universidad de Murcia
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer101055
FachzeitschriftRhizosphere
Jahrgang34
Frühes Online-Datum11 März 2025
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Juni 2025

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.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Zitieren

Determining the nutritional importance of common mycelial networks in a desert truffle mycorrhizal symbiosis for soil nitrogen redistribution. / Andrino, Alberto; Sauheitl, Leopold; Guggenberger, Georg et al.
in: Rhizosphere, Jahrgang 34, 101055, 06.2025.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Andrino A, Sauheitl L, Guggenberger G, Boy J, Figueiredo AF, Arenas F et al. Determining the nutritional importance of common mycelial networks in a desert truffle mycorrhizal symbiosis for soil nitrogen redistribution. Rhizosphere. 2025 Jun;34:101055. Epub 2025 Mär 11. doi: 10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101055
Download
@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 = jun,
doi = "10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101055",
language = "English",
volume = "34",

}

Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Determining the nutritional importance of common mycelial networks in a desert truffle mycorrhizal symbiosis for soil nitrogen redistribution

AU - Andrino, Alberto

AU - Sauheitl, Leopold

AU - Guggenberger, Georg

AU - Boy, Jens

AU - Figueiredo, Aline Fernandes

AU - Arenas, Francisco

AU - Navarro-Ródenas, Alfonso

AU - Marqués-Gálvez, José Eduardo

AU - Morte, Asunción

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Common mycelial network CMN

KW - Desert truffle

KW - Helianthemum

KW - Mycorrhiza

KW - Nitrogen

KW - Terfezia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000630767&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101055

DO - 10.1016/j.rhisph.2025.101055

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105000630767

VL - 34

JO - Rhizosphere

JF - Rhizosphere

M1 - 101055

ER -

Von denselben Autoren