European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is commercially and ecologically important tree species in Central European forests but its intra-specific variability in drought and temperature tolerance might endanger its future distribution in Europe. Beech phenological and growth traits have been studied in large-scale international beech provenance trials, yet the growth and turnover of its fine roots (FR) has not been included among the observations. FR growth dynamics and FR architectural traits of three beech provenances in the international beech provenance trial Straza/Kamenski hrib, established in Slovenia in 1998, and from a natural beech regeneration site growing at its border, were studied from 2007 to 2010. We studied FR biomass using soil cores (SC), root production using ingrowth soil cores (IC), and root longevity using minirhizotrons (MR). Significant differences in FR biomass (live and dead) between the provenance P37 and other provenances were discovered in SC, FR biomass of P37 being significantly higher than FR biomass of latter, which could be connected with overall excellent growth performance of P37 due to favourable environmental conditions at trial. Values of specific root length (SRL) in IC varied significantly among P37 and P54. The turnover rates in IC were at the end of the experiment close to MR results. Median MR-based longevities of FR varied between 625 and 934 days. Survival curve of the slowest growing provenance (considering its aboveground...
COBISS.SI-ID: 5146278
Root-associated fungal communities are important components in ecosystem processes, impacting plant growth and vigor by influencing the quality, direction, and flow of nutrients and water between plants and fungi. Linkages of plant phenological characteristics with belowground root-associated fungal communities have rarely been investigated, and thus our aim was to search for an interplay between contrasting phenology of host ectomycorrhizal trees from the same location and root-associated fungal communities (ectomycorrhizal, endophytic, saprotrophic and pathogenic rootassociated fungi) in young and in adult silver fir trees. The study was performed in a managed silver fir forest site. Twenty-four soil samples collected under two phenologically contrasting silver fir groups were analyzed for differences in rootassociated fungal communities using Illumina sequencing of a total root-associated fungal community. Significant differences in beta diversity and in mean alpha diversity were confirmed for overall community of ectomycorrhizal root-associated fungi, whereas for ecologically different non-ectomycorrhizal root-associated fungal communities the differences were significant only for beta diversity and not for mean alpha diversity. At genus level root-associated fungal communities differed significantly between early and late flushing young and adult silver fir trees. We discuss the interactions through which the phenology of host plants either drives or is driven by the...
COBISS.SI-ID: 5324966
Drought stress elicits many changes in tree fine roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Trees cope with drought through avoidance mechanisms or tolerance. Drought can result in changes in colonization by ectomycorrhizal fungi and in the structure of ectomycorrhizal communities. Survival of tree seedlings is supported through common mycelium networks. In moderate drought, there is greater colonization by ectomycorrhizal fungi compared to severe drought, resulting in several beneficial effects to the tree. Under drought, the frequency of ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum Fr. often increases. C. geophilum sustains tree fine roots function and therefore roots are able to absorb water as soon as the drought period is over. Under drought, synthesis of recalcitrant organic compounds in roots, e.g. lignine, is increased. Recalcitrant compounds such as melanine are also found in C. geophilum, contributing to the accumulation of recalcitrant soil organic matter.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5568166