Soil niche effect on species diversity and catabolic activities in an ectomycorrhizal fungal community

The species of an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) community were investigated in a temperate oak forest by morphotyping and ITS rDNA sequencing. Thirty-six ECM morphotypes were found at the site. The niche effect (as organic soil, mineral soil or dead woody debris artificially introduced in the soil) on the ECM community structure and on the potential catabolic activities of the most abundant morphotypes was studied. The morphotypes in each niche were subjected to enzymatic tests developed for hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes involved in the decomposition of organic compounds. The ECM community structure varied widely depending on the soil horizon or habitat patch. The species richness was higher in the A I horizon than in the other niches. Different ECM species had different activity patterns for the eight enzymatic tests while co-occurring in the same niche. Catabolic activities also changed within species between niches. Dead woody debris were extensively colonized by two saprotrophic fungi (Megacollybia platyphylla and Armillaria sp.) and, in this particular niche, ECM morphotypes predominantly belonged to the genera Lactarius and Tomentella. These morphotypes showed high chitinase activities. This study suggested also that some ECM fungi could obtain nutrients via the chitin degradation of dead or live saprobes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.