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Environmental barcoding of the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus Cortinarius
Understanding the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in plant communities is hampered by a lack of knowledge about fungal diversity. DNA barcoding of the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus Cortinarius was used to compare fungal diversity in soil from four plant communities: (i) Nothofagus forest (where Cortina...
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Published in: | Fungal diversity 2013-01, Vol.58 (1), p.299-310 |
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Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Understanding the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in plant communities is hampered by a lack of knowledge about fungal diversity. DNA barcoding of the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus
Cortinarius
was used to compare fungal diversity in soil from four plant communities: (i)
Nothofagus
forest (where
Cortinarius
is common and diverse), (ii)
Kunzea
forest (where
Cortinarius
is present but with low diversity), (iii) a
Pinus radiata
plantation (
Cortinarius
is not thought to be present) and (iv) a sub-Antarctic island (where known ectomycorrhizal hosts are absent). PCR primers specific for the ITS region of
Cortinarius
species were developed. Specificity was tested in vitro and in silico against DNA from basidiocarps of
Cortinarius
and non-
Cortinarius
species. The primers were tested for their ability to amplify
Cortinarius
DNA in soil from forests of the three ectomycorrhizal forest communities and a range of soils from the ectomycorrhiza-free subantarctic Campbell Island. High diversity of
Cortinarius
was associated with soil of all three ectomycorrhizal communities, despite
Cortinarius
being previously unrecorded from
Pinus
. Soil from all three communities share some ectomycorrhizal fungi (including fungi shared between native and exotic hosts), having implications for community succession, introduction of exotic fungi and biodiversity assessment. No
Cortinarius
was detected from Campbell Island samples. The validated molecular protocol assessed species diversity in a rapid and cost effective way. Baseline biodiversity assessment based on DNA barcoding is more effective at detecting diversity than traditional methods, but requires careful consideration of the difference between ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity in soil versus root-tips. |
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ISSN: | 1560-2745 1878-9129 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s13225-012-0218-1 |