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Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Mycorrhizal Maps as a Tool to Explore Colonization Patterns and Fungal Strategies in the Roots of Festuca rubra and Zea mays
Published on: August 26, 2022
Bacteria could help ectomycorrhizae establishment under climate variations
Francisca Reis1, Alexandre P Magalhães1, Rui M Tavares1
1BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Plant Functional Biology Centre, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
Abstract:
Rhizosphere microbiome is one of the main sources of plant protection against drought. Beneficial symbiotic microorganisms, such as ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) and mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB), interact with each other for increasing or maintaining host plant fitness. This mutual support benefits all three partners and comprises a natural system for drought acclimation in plants. Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) tolerance to drought scenarios is widely known, but adaptation to climate changes has been a challenge for forest sustainability protection. In this work, ECMF and MHB communities from cork oak forests were cross-linked and correlated with climates. Cenococcum, Russula and Tuber were the most abundant ECMF capable of interacting with MHB (ECMF~MHB) genera in cork oak stands, while Bacillus, Burkholderia and Streptomyces were the most conspicuous MHB. Integrating all microbial data, two consortia Lactarius/Bacillaceae and Russula/Burkholderaceae have singled out but revealed a negative interaction with each other. Russula/Burkholderaceae might have an important role for cork oak forest sustainability in arid environments, which will be complemented by the lower drought adaptation of competitive Lactarius/Bacillaceae. These microbial consortia could play an essential role on cork oak forest resilience to upcoming climatic changes.
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