Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology
<i>Castanea henryi</i> is a ubiquitous hardwood chestnut species in southern China and is important both ecologically and economically. It is mainly cultivated for nut production, just like other chestnut species. However, the establishment of <i>C. henryi</i> seedlings in a...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1643 |
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| author | Huan Xiong Ping Chen Wangzun Chen Yinghui Yang Yijia Jin Shiyi Tian Joseph Masabni Deyi Yuan Feng Zou |
| author_facet | Huan Xiong Ping Chen Wangzun Chen Yinghui Yang Yijia Jin Shiyi Tian Joseph Masabni Deyi Yuan Feng Zou |
| author_sort | Huan Xiong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Castanea henryi</i> is a ubiquitous hardwood chestnut species in southern China and is important both ecologically and economically. It is mainly cultivated for nut production, just like other chestnut species. However, the establishment of <i>C. henryi</i> seedlings in a new orchard has proven to be difficult because few seedlings survive transplanting due to the incompatibility of their coarse root architecture with nutrient-depleted red acid soils in southern China. Root architecture can be profoundly modified and nutrient can be stress alleviated due to the association of roots with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. <i>Boletus edulis</i> is an ECM fungus with edible and medicinal fruiting bodies. However, its impact on plant growth varies with the plant species it is associated with. In order to elucidate the role of <i>B. edulis</i> in <i>C. henryi</i> afforestation, we evaluated growth parameters and soil enzymatic activities, as well as seasonal variations in physiology and structure of ECM root tips. Growth responses and soil enzymatic activities were measured 6 months after inoculation. The physiological characteristics of root tips were also compared at various seasons throughout the year. <i>B. edulis</i> colonization of <i>C. henryi</i> roots was successful at a 60% colonization rate. Height, base diameter, and biomass (especially the underground part) of inoculated seedlings (JG) were higher than those of uninoculated seedlings (CK). JG had higher root total length, root surface area, root volume, root average diameter, and number of root tips than CK. Additionally, JG exhibited higher total nitrogen and phosphorus content. Abnormal mantle and Harting net were observed in winter. No matter the season, ECM tips had higher antioxidant enzyme activities, root activities, soluble protein content, and lower malondialdehyde compared to non-ECM tips (nE) and those without ECM tips (woE), and there were no differences between nE and woE. It is important to understand the growth of the host plant in response to ECM and that the seasonal variation of ECM root tips is important when growing high-quality <i>C. henryi</i> seedlings, due to the crucial role of <i>B. edulis</i> in improving seedling initial survival rate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:07:18Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-82a3e1502fd044bcb4e79d1b9569aa412023-11-23T08:20:21ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-11-011212164310.3390/f12121643Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and PhysiologyHuan Xiong0Ping Chen1Wangzun Chen2Yinghui Yang3Yijia Jin4Shiyi Tian5Joseph Masabni6Deyi Yuan7Feng Zou8Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaTexas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75252, USAKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of Ministry of Education, College of forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China<i>Castanea henryi</i> is a ubiquitous hardwood chestnut species in southern China and is important both ecologically and economically. It is mainly cultivated for nut production, just like other chestnut species. However, the establishment of <i>C. henryi</i> seedlings in a new orchard has proven to be difficult because few seedlings survive transplanting due to the incompatibility of their coarse root architecture with nutrient-depleted red acid soils in southern China. Root architecture can be profoundly modified and nutrient can be stress alleviated due to the association of roots with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. <i>Boletus edulis</i> is an ECM fungus with edible and medicinal fruiting bodies. However, its impact on plant growth varies with the plant species it is associated with. In order to elucidate the role of <i>B. edulis</i> in <i>C. henryi</i> afforestation, we evaluated growth parameters and soil enzymatic activities, as well as seasonal variations in physiology and structure of ECM root tips. Growth responses and soil enzymatic activities were measured 6 months after inoculation. The physiological characteristics of root tips were also compared at various seasons throughout the year. <i>B. edulis</i> colonization of <i>C. henryi</i> roots was successful at a 60% colonization rate. Height, base diameter, and biomass (especially the underground part) of inoculated seedlings (JG) were higher than those of uninoculated seedlings (CK). JG had higher root total length, root surface area, root volume, root average diameter, and number of root tips than CK. Additionally, JG exhibited higher total nitrogen and phosphorus content. Abnormal mantle and Harting net were observed in winter. No matter the season, ECM tips had higher antioxidant enzyme activities, root activities, soluble protein content, and lower malondialdehyde compared to non-ECM tips (nE) and those without ECM tips (woE), and there were no differences between nE and woE. It is important to understand the growth of the host plant in response to ECM and that the seasonal variation of ECM root tips is important when growing high-quality <i>C. henryi</i> seedlings, due to the crucial role of <i>B. edulis</i> in improving seedling initial survival rate.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1643<i>Boletus edulis</i>growth responsesoil enzymatic activityectomycorrhizal structure |
| spellingShingle | Huan Xiong Ping Chen Wangzun Chen Yinghui Yang Yijia Jin Shiyi Tian Joseph Masabni Deyi Yuan Feng Zou Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology Forests <i>Boletus edulis</i> growth response soil enzymatic activity ectomycorrhizal structure |
| title | Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology |
| title_full | Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology |
| title_fullStr | Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology |
| title_short | Effect of an Ectomycorrhizal Fungus on the Growth of <i>Castanea henryi</i> Seedlings and the Seasonal Variation of Root Tips’ Structure and Physiology |
| title_sort | effect of an ectomycorrhizal fungus on the growth of i castanea henryi i seedlings and the seasonal variation of root tips structure and physiology |
| topic | <i>Boletus edulis</i> growth response soil enzymatic activity ectomycorrhizal structure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1643 |
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