Claudia Perini

A fungal perspective on conservation biology

Hitherto fungi have rarely been considered in conservation biology, but this is changing as the field moves from addressing single species issues to an integrative ecosystem-based approach. The current emphasis on biodiversity as a provider of ecosystem services throws the spotlight on the vast diversity of fungi, their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, and the benefits of considering fungi in concert with animals and plants. We reviewed the role of fungi in ecosystems and composed an overview of the current state of conservation of fungi. There are 5 areas in which fungi can be readily integrated into conservation: as providers of habitats and processes important for other organisms; as indicators of desired or undesired trends in ecosystem functioning; as indicators of habitats of conservation value; as providers of powerful links between human societies and the natural world because of their value as food, medicine, and biotechnological tools; and as sources of novel tools and approaches for conservation of megadiverse organism groups. We hope conservation professionals will value the potential of fungi, engage mycologists in their work, and appreciate the crucial role of fungi in nature.

Interactions of fungi with other organisms

Living organisms establish complex networks of mutualistic and antagonistic interactions in nature, which impact strongly on their own survival and on the stability of the whole population. Fungi, in particular, can shape natural as well as man-managed ecosystems due to their ubiquitous occurrence and the range of interactions they establish with plants, animals and other microbes. This review describes some examples of mutualistic and antagonistic fungal interactions that are of particular interest for their ecological role, or because they can be exploited by man to improve plant health and/or productivity in sustainable agriculture and forestry.

Effects of temperature and rainfall on fruiting of macrofungi in oak forests of the Mediterranean area

The results of a study on the effects of weather (rainfall and minimum, mean, and maximum temperatures) on fruiting of macrofungi in a number of oak forests of Tuscany (central Italy) are reported. The fungal parameters (total number of species and total number of carpophores) were examined for statistical correlations with annual and seasonal temperature and rainfall and with temperature and rainfall in the 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30-day periods before the date of the sampling. It was found that abundant annual rainfall was necessary for the fungal mycelium to fruit. Spring rainfall in particular seemed to be related to the number of species found in autumn. Rainfall was the main influence on fruiting in the most important fruiting period (autumn). Highly significant correlations were found between the number of carpophores and rainfall in the 30 days preceding sampling.

Assessment of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in the natural habitats of Tuber magnatum (Ascomycota, Pezizales)

The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities of four natural Tuber magnatum truffle grounds, located in different Italian regions (Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Molise, and Tuscany), were studied. The main objective of this study was to characterize and compare the ECM fungal communities in the different regions and in productive (where T. magnatum ascomata were found) and nonproductive points. More than 8,000 (8,100) colonized root tips were counted in 73 soil cores, and 129 operational taxonomic units were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Although the composition of the ECM fungal communities studied varied, we were able to highlight some common characteristics. The most plentiful ECM fungal taxa belong to the Thelephoraceae and Sebacinaceae families followed by Inocybaceae and Russulaceae. Although several ectomycorrhizas belonging to Tuber genus were identified, no T. magnatum ectomycorrhizas were found. The putative ecological significance of some species is discussed.

Fungal biodiversity and in situ conservation in Italy.

Abstract A remarkable increase in knowledge of fungal biodiversity in Italy has occurred in the last five years. The authors report up-to-date numbers of fungi (Basidiomycota and Ascomycota) by regions together with distributional and ecological data on hypogeous fungi. Specific case studies such as alpine fungi, orchid mycorrhizas symbionts, invasive species, and the use of macrofungi as food by red squirrels are analyzed. In situ conservation strategies carried out on target species and/or taxonomic groups are also indicated.

Periodicity, fluctuations and successions of macrofungi in fir forests (Abies alba Miller) in Tuscany, Italy

Abstract The present study, carried out in natural and planted Abies alba Miller woods, was undertaken as a contribution to knowledge of temporal changes occurring in fungal communities. Moreover, notes on fungal species and fungal communities in this type of wood are given. Correlations between meteorological variables and fungi (number of species and number of carpophores, as total or divided into trophic groups) were tested by Pearson’s product-moment coefficient. On a short time scale, weather parameters clearly play a major role, affecting periodicity and fluctuations; on a long time scale (10 years or more), correspondence analysis (CA) indicate that vegetation parameters and forest evolution affect successions.

Spatio-temporal dynamic of Tuber magnatum mycelium in natural truffle grounds.

Tuber magnatum produces the worlds most expensive truffle. This fungus produces very rare ectomycorrhizas which are difficult or even impossible to detect in the field. A “real-time” PCR assay was recently developed to quantify and to track T. magnatum mycelium in soil. Here, this technique was used to investigate the spatial distribution of T. magnatum extra-radical mycelium in soil productive patches and its dynamic across seasons. This study was carried out in four different natural T. magnatum truffle grounds located in different Italian regions. During the fruiting seasons, the amount of T. magnatum mycelium was significantly higher around the fruiting points and decreased going farther away from them. Moreover, T. magnatum mycelium inside the productive patches underwent seasonal fluctuations. In early spring, the amount of T. magnatum mycelium was significantly higher than in summer. In summer, probably due to the hot and dry season, T. magnatum mycelium significantly decreased, whereas in autumn it increased again and was concentrated at the putative fruiting points. These results give new insights on T. magnatum ecology and are useful to plan the most appropriate sampling strategy for evaluating the management of a truffle ground.

Wild and cultivated mushrooms as a model of sustainable development

The natural resources are currently overexploited and since 1992 the Conference of Rio de Janeiro has focused on sustainable development to safeguard our planet for future generations. The Fungi kingdom includes producers of goods and services for ecosystems and organisms widely used in the food industry. Besides, macrofungi are recognized as non-timber forest products and could be utilized as agents of environmental management through weed biocontrol and environmental improvement. Moreover, the cultivation of fungi, in particular truffles, can provide an important income in agroecosystems, especially in marginal areas, along with the development of new technologies to produce novel products from fungi.

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities of Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms

Edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms (EEMMs) live in the soil in association with the roots of plants, other ectomycorrhizal fungi, and soil organisms, all of which compete for space and nutrients. Consequently, the success of introducing an edible ectomycorrhizal (EEM) fungus into soils with the intention of cultivation is entirely dependent on its ability to survive in this competitive environment. Studies on the composition and structure of ectomycorrhizal (EM) communities in both productive and nonproductive EEMM areas have contributed to a better understanding of the relationship that EEMMs establish with other EM fungi and the environment. These have included morphological studies, the use of molecular tools, and most recently metagenomic methodologies leading to new insights into soil EEMM ecology. In this chapter, we briefly describe the methods that have been used to study EM fungal communities and Web databases that can be used for the identification of ectomycorrhizas such as the recently released eMyCo. We also illustrate the studies that have been conducted on the EM communities in natural and cultivated ecosystems where the most important EEMMs are found.

Molecular identification of root fungal associates in Orchis pauciflora Tenore

Abstract The terrestrial orchid, Orchis pauciflora Ten., growing in poor grassland and garrigue of Central Mediterranean region, is local and rare and has been included in the red lists of several Italian regions. We investigated the diversity of fungal associates in O. pauciflora adult plants collected in two protected areas of Tuscany (Central Italy). Genomic DNA was extracted from mycorrhizal roots of 12 orchid plants and the fungal ITS were amplified and sequenced. Several fungal associates, belonging to different taxa of basidiomycetes (Tulasnellaceae) and ascomycetes such as Leptodontidium, Exophiala and Phialophora species, were recovered. The trophic role of these fungi and their impact on O. pauciflora growth and conservation are discussed.