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A plant growth-promoting symbiosis between Mycena galopus and Vaccinium corymbosum seedlings

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Abstract

Typically, Mycena species are viewed as saprotrophic fungi. However, numerous detections of Mycena spp. in the roots of green plants suggest that a continuum from saprotrophy to biotrophy could exist. In particular, mycenoid species have repeatedly been found in Ericaceae plant roots. Our study asked whether (1) Mycena species are commonly found in the roots of green Ericaceae plants; (2) Mycena sequences are limited to a single group/lineage within the genus; and (3) a Mycena sp. can behave as a beneficial root associate with a typical ericoid mycorrhizal plant (Vaccinium corymbosum), regardless of how much external labile carbon is available. We detected Mycena sequences in roots of all sampled Ericaceae plants. Our Mycena sequences clustered in four different groups distributed across the Mycena genus. Only one group could be assigned with confidence to a named species (M. galopus). Our Mycena sequences clustered with other Mycena sequences detected in roots of ericoid mycorrhizal plant species collected throughout Europe, America, and Australia. An isolate of M. galopus promoted growth of V. corymbosum seedlings in vitro regardless of external carbon supply in the media. Seedlings inoculated with M. galopus grew as well as those inoculated with the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoscyphus ericae. Surprisingly, this M. galopus isolate colonized Vaccinium roots and formed distinctive peg-like structures. Our results suggest that Mycena species might operate along a saprotroph–symbiotic continuum with a range of ericoid mycorrhizal plant species. We discuss our results in terms of fungal partner recruitment by Ericaceae plants.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Hedda Weitz (University of Aberdeen, UK) and Prof David Read (University of Sheffield, UK) for supplying the cultures of Mycena gallopus and Rhizoscyphus ericae. We are also grateful to Catherine Smart and Alan Sim for technical support and to Melanie Jones for statistical advice. Finally, our thanks go to Prof Ian Alexander, who patiently guided the field collection and provided generous feedbacks on the experimental design and data interpretation.

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  1. Gwen-Aëlle Grelet and Daniel M. Durall made equal contribution to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landcare Research, Gerald Street, Lincoln, 7608, New Zealand

    Gwen-Aëlle Grelet, Dagmar F. Goeke & Gary J. Houliston

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK

    Gwen-Aëlle Grelet & Ren Ba

  3. The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK

    Ren Ba & Andy F. S. Taylor

  4. Biology, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan 1177 Research Road, Science Building, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    Daniel M. Durall

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  1. Gwen-Aëlle Grelet
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Correspondence to Gwen-Aëlle Grelet.

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Grelet, GA., Ba, R., Goeke, D.F. et al. A plant growth-promoting symbiosis between Mycena galopus and Vaccinium corymbosum seedlings. Mycorrhiza 27, 831–839 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-017-0797-5

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