Below-Ground Ectomycorrhizal Community Structure in the Postfire Successional Pinus koraiensis Forests in the Central Sikhote-Alin (the Russian Far East)

A highly diverse ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal community, comprising 110 operational taxonomic units, was identified in postfire Pinus koraiensis forests within the Central Sikhote-Alin region. The study revealed significant shifts in taxonomic composition and dominant fungal species between burned and unburned sites, with Russulaceae and Thelephoraceae being prevalent across all communities. While mycorrhizal colonization rates were high in both fire-affected and control sites, vertical stratification of EcM fungal diversity was more pronounced in later succession stages. These findings suggest that EcM fungi play a crucial role in forest regeneration post-fire, highlighting their importance in ecosystem resilience. The research employed molecular techniques to directly analyze mycorrhizal roots, providing novel insights into the below-ground dynamics of these symbiotic relationships.

Malysheva, E. F., Malysheva, V. F., Kovalenko, A. E., Pimenova, E. A., Gromyko, M. N., Voronina, E. Yu.,. (2015). Below-Ground Ectomycorrhizal Community Structure in the Postfire Successional Pinus koraiensis Forests in the Central Sikhote-Alin (the Russian Far East). Botanica Pacifica. https://doi.org/10.17581/bp.2016.05102