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Ectomycorrhizal fungi - potential organic matter decomposers, yet not saprotrophs

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Author

Summary, in English

Although hypothesized for many years, the involvement of ectomycorrhizal fungi in decomposition of soil organic matter remains controversial and has not yet been fully acknowledged as an important factor in the regulation of soil carbon (C) storage. Here, we review recent findings, which support the view that some ectomycorrhizal fungi have the capacity to oxidize organic matter, either by brown-rot' Fenton chemistry or using white-rot' peroxidases. We propose that ectomycorrhizal fungi benefit from organic matter decomposition primarily through increased nitrogen mobilization rather than through release of metabolic C and question the view that ectomycorrhizal fungi may act as facultative saprotrophs. Finally, we discuss how mycorrhizal decomposition may influence organic matter storage in soils and mediate responses of ecosystem C sequestration to environmental changes.

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

1443-1447

Publication/Series

New Phytologist

Volume

205

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article review

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • carbon sequestration
  • decomposition
  • ectomycorrhiza
  • nitrogen cycling
  • organic matter oxidation
  • priming effect

Status

Published

Project

  • Mobilization of organic nitrogen by ectomycorrhizal fungi

Research group

  • Microbial Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1469-8137