90
A. Chanda et al.
decreased in the tubers under an elevated level of O 3 , indicating that changed nutrient quality of the leaves and translocation within the plant can influence disease
development under these conditions [23].
6 Effect of Climate Change on Soil Mycobiomes
Direct exposure to the sun in Upper Egypt resulted in significant changes to mycobiomes. Thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi were significantly reduced in count
and number. Fungi that exhibited changes in number under the tested conditions were
Alternaria alternata, Cochliobolus spicifer, Emericella nidulans v. dentata, E. nidulans v. lata, E. nidulans v. nidulans and E. rugulosa, Rhizopus stolinifer, Fusarium
chlamydosporum, F. dimerum and Gibberella fujikuroi var. fujikuroi (anamorph),
Cochliobolus sativus, Gliocladium roseum, Melanospora zamiae and Nectria heamatococca (anamorph), Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger [25]. Climate
change affects not only the fungal diversity but also spore dispersal, sporocarp fruiting
and inter-specific fungal interactions in the fungal community. All these determine
the landscape of agricultural land [26]. Fungal community composition shifts according to the richness of soil and is dependent on the level of carbon in the soil. The
richness of Ascomycota increases at a warmer temperature and dry weather, while
the richness of Cryptomycota deceases under the same conditions. Changes in the
community are also dependent on the moisture content in soil [27].
7 Direct Impact of Changing Temperatures on Fungi
Microbial interaction among themselves and with plants shapes the agricultural landscape and productivity [28]. Soil fungi comprise a huge portion of soil and play an
important part in carbon breakdown. Plant-associated fungi produce the majority of
lignin degrading enzymes such as ligninase and chitinase that are responsible for
plant decomposition, that increases the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorus in soil. Since fungi are sensitive to changes in air temperature and moisture, the alterations of these parameters upon climate change can alter their metabolic
activity. Several reviews have focused on the impact of global environmental changes
on plants and other terrestrial ecosystems. However, mycorrhizal fungi and their role
in carbon sequestration in soils have been poorly studied despite their critical role
[29]. An increase of 5 °C can result in a 2.75 fold increase of Mucoromycotina [30].
Increase in temperature also increases the activity of saprophytes thereby decreasing
the availability of carbon and increasing carbon dioxide release in the soil. Increase in
temperature also affects the extracellular enzyme activity (EEA). The main hydrolytic
enzymes involved in labile to intermediate C decomposition are α-glucosidase (AG)
that degrades starch, ß-glucosidase (BG) and cellobiohydrolase (CBH) that degrade
cellulose and ß-xylosidase (BX) that degrades hemicellulose. The change in their
A. Chanda et al.
decreased in the tubers under an elevated level of O 3 , indicating that changed nutrient quality of the leaves and translocation within the plant can influence disease
development under these conditions [23].
6 Effect of Climate Change on Soil Mycobiomes
Direct exposure to the sun in Upper Egypt resulted in significant changes to mycobiomes. Thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi were significantly reduced in count
and number. Fungi that exhibited changes in number under the tested conditions were
Alternaria alternata, Cochliobolus spicifer, Emericella nidulans v. dentata, E. nidulans v. lata, E. nidulans v. nidulans and E. rugulosa, Rhizopus stolinifer, Fusarium
chlamydosporum, F. dimerum and Gibberella fujikuroi var. fujikuroi (anamorph),
Cochliobolus sativus, Gliocladium roseum, Melanospora zamiae and Nectria heamatococca (anamorph), Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger [25]. Climate
change affects not only the fungal diversity but also spore dispersal, sporocarp fruiting
and inter-specific fungal interactions in the fungal community. All these determine
the landscape of agricultural land [26]. Fungal community composition shifts according to the richness of soil and is dependent on the level of carbon in the soil. The
richness of Ascomycota increases at a warmer temperature and dry weather, while
the richness of Cryptomycota deceases under the same conditions. Changes in the
community are also dependent on the moisture content in soil [27].
7 Direct Impact of Changing Temperatures on Fungi
Microbial interaction among themselves and with plants shapes the agricultural landscape and productivity [28]. Soil fungi comprise a huge portion of soil and play an
important part in carbon breakdown. Plant-associated fungi produce the majority of
lignin degrading enzymes such as ligninase and chitinase that are responsible for
plant decomposition, that increases the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorus in soil. Since fungi are sensitive to changes in air temperature and moisture, the alterations of these parameters upon climate change can alter their metabolic
activity. Several reviews have focused on the impact of global environmental changes
on plants and other terrestrial ecosystems. However, mycorrhizal fungi and their role
in carbon sequestration in soils have been poorly studied despite their critical role
[29]. An increase of 5 °C can result in a 2.75 fold increase of Mucoromycotina [30].
Increase in temperature also increases the activity of saprophytes thereby decreasing
the availability of carbon and increasing carbon dioxide release in the soil. Increase in
temperature also affects the extracellular enzyme activity (EEA). The main hydrolytic
enzymes involved in labile to intermediate C decomposition are α-glucosidase (AG)
that degrades starch, ß-glucosidase (BG) and cellobiohydrolase (CBH) that degrade
cellulose and ß-xylosidase (BX) that degrades hemicellulose. The change in their