Change in root-associated fungal communities affects soil enzymatic activities during Pinus massoniana forest development in subtropical China

Root-associated fungal communities play a key role in plant productivity and soil processes in forest ecosystems. However, how diversity and composition of root-associated fungi change with forest development and their linkage with soil enzyme activities remain largely unknown. We characterized the root-associated fungal communities, plant and soil properties, and extracellular enzyme activities along a chronosequence spanning young (15 years old) to over-mature (63 years old) Pinus massoniana forest development stages. Our results showed that P. massoniana roots harbored diverse root-associated fungal communities and they varied with forest development. Near-mature (36 years old) forest stands had the lowest alpha-diversity but higher relative abundances of ericoid mycorrhizal and activities of enzymes involved in C, N and P acquisition. The relative abundances of ectomycorrhizal fungi and endophyte were higher in middle-age (24 years old) and mature stands (45 years old), whereas the relative abundance of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi was highest in the near-mature stand. Soil pH, soil C:P and N:P ratios were important factors shaping the diversity and composition of root-associated fungal communities. Structural equation modeling indicated that changes in the community composition, but not richness of root-associated fungi, had significant correlations with soil enzymatic C:N and N:P stoichiometry. In conclusion, this study suggests that different stand development stages exhibit distinct diversity and composition of root-associated fungal communities, which affecting soil functions in terms of enzymatic activity.

Automated summary

The study revealed that different stages of Pinus massoniana forest development exhibit distinct diversity and composition of root-associated fungal communities, which mainly affect soil functions in terms of enzymatic activity.