Impact of Climate Change on Plant-Associated Fungi
87
observed in Cenococcum geophilum and Suillus sp. associated with Scots pine (P.
sylvestris L.), fungal biomass does not increase under these conditions. Respiration
of ECM strains of C. geophilum, Suillus intermedius and Lactarius cf. pubescens can
be reduced under increasing temperature [5]. It has been reported that C. geophilum
show decreased colonization in Quercus myrsinaefolia under increased temperature.
Drought can significantly influence ECM colonization and community structures.
Drought decreased mycorrhizal fungal colonization of some plant species such as
Norway spruce trees, several Mediterranean shrubs, some Pinus spp. (such as P. oaxacana and P. muricata colonization with Rhizopogon sp.). But not of Pinus taeda
seedlings. Moreover, a particular adaptation in colonization by some ECM species
seems to occur, which may lead to community changes under decreased soil water
availability. Hence, ECM strains bring beneficial effects to plants even under drought
conditions and hence may find application in reforestation by relieving of drought
stress in plants. Symbiosis with C. geophilum is stimulated under low water content
as this fungus persists better under drought stress than others [5].
As mycorrhizal fungi that colonize plant roots grow into the rhizosphere, there are microsymbionts such as endophytic fungi of genera Atkinsonella,Balansia,Balansiopsis,Echinodothis,Epichloë,Myriogenospora,Parepichloe
and Neotyphodium that exist in plant tissues and may grow within roots, stems
and/or leaves, evolving to sporulate on plant or host-tissue. The ericoids, dark
septate endophytes demonstrated increased colonization in ericaceous dwarf shrubs
under increased atmospheric CO 2 concentrations [5]. In the case of Neotyphodium
coenophialum and its host, tall fescue Schedonorus phoenix, endophyte infection
stated to be higher under increased CO 2 compared with ambient CO 2 . However,
CO 2 enhancement did not affect the interfaces between host grasses and purpletop
grass, Tridens flavus and their endophytic–fungal symbionts, Acremonium lolii
and Balansia epichloe, respectively. The effect of CO 2 on the host plant and its
endosymbionts may additionally change the plant carbohydrate content. This was
confirmed with N. lolii and perennial ryegrass (L. perenne), where infected plants
had higher carbohydrate contents than endophyte free plants, and was higher than
under ambient CO 2 conditions. Elevated CO 2 may lead to the increased existence
of endophyte infections resulting in overall effects on the ecosystem. Also under
elevated CO 2 conditions associations between endophytic fungi and grasses defend
plants against insect herbivores. Soil warming may influence favorable associations
between plants and fungal endophytes. Temperature is a primary parameter that has
a significant influence on the endophyte appearance in plant tissue. The endophyte
infection of N. coenophialum of its host tall fescue S. phoenix was not obstructed by
warming. Warming increased the density of different fungal endophyte genotypes
within individual root sections of the plant without affecting the composition and
the richness of the community. Any changes in endophyte communities seen with
changes in temperature are attributed to the plant species diversity being affected by
warming, leading to effects on endophytic fungal communities. Endophytic fungi
provide a competitive advantage to their host plant by enhancing the resistance
to environmental stresses. Some endophytes can enhance plant growth during
drought change exposure. The fungal endophyte may increase water retention in
87
observed in Cenococcum geophilum and Suillus sp. associated with Scots pine (P.
sylvestris L.), fungal biomass does not increase under these conditions. Respiration
of ECM strains of C. geophilum, Suillus intermedius and Lactarius cf. pubescens can
be reduced under increasing temperature [5]. It has been reported that C. geophilum
show decreased colonization in Quercus myrsinaefolia under increased temperature.
Drought can significantly influence ECM colonization and community structures.
Drought decreased mycorrhizal fungal colonization of some plant species such as
Norway spruce trees, several Mediterranean shrubs, some Pinus spp. (such as P. oaxacana and P. muricata colonization with Rhizopogon sp.). But not of Pinus taeda
seedlings. Moreover, a particular adaptation in colonization by some ECM species
seems to occur, which may lead to community changes under decreased soil water
availability. Hence, ECM strains bring beneficial effects to plants even under drought
conditions and hence may find application in reforestation by relieving of drought
stress in plants. Symbiosis with C. geophilum is stimulated under low water content
as this fungus persists better under drought stress than others [5].
As mycorrhizal fungi that colonize plant roots grow into the rhizosphere, there are microsymbionts such as endophytic fungi of genera Atkinsonella,Balansia,Balansiopsis,Echinodothis,Epichloë,Myriogenospora,Parepichloe
and Neotyphodium that exist in plant tissues and may grow within roots, stems
and/or leaves, evolving to sporulate on plant or host-tissue. The ericoids, dark
septate endophytes demonstrated increased colonization in ericaceous dwarf shrubs
under increased atmospheric CO 2 concentrations [5]. In the case of Neotyphodium
coenophialum and its host, tall fescue Schedonorus phoenix, endophyte infection
stated to be higher under increased CO 2 compared with ambient CO 2 . However,
CO 2 enhancement did not affect the interfaces between host grasses and purpletop
grass, Tridens flavus and their endophytic–fungal symbionts, Acremonium lolii
and Balansia epichloe, respectively. The effect of CO 2 on the host plant and its
endosymbionts may additionally change the plant carbohydrate content. This was
confirmed with N. lolii and perennial ryegrass (L. perenne), where infected plants
had higher carbohydrate contents than endophyte free plants, and was higher than
under ambient CO 2 conditions. Elevated CO 2 may lead to the increased existence
of endophyte infections resulting in overall effects on the ecosystem. Also under
elevated CO 2 conditions associations between endophytic fungi and grasses defend
plants against insect herbivores. Soil warming may influence favorable associations
between plants and fungal endophytes. Temperature is a primary parameter that has
a significant influence on the endophyte appearance in plant tissue. The endophyte
infection of N. coenophialum of its host tall fescue S. phoenix was not obstructed by
warming. Warming increased the density of different fungal endophyte genotypes
within individual root sections of the plant without affecting the composition and
the richness of the community. Any changes in endophyte communities seen with
changes in temperature are attributed to the plant species diversity being affected by
warming, leading to effects on endophytic fungal communities. Endophytic fungi
provide a competitive advantage to their host plant by enhancing the resistance
to environmental stresses. Some endophytes can enhance plant growth during
drought change exposure. The fungal endophyte may increase water retention in