Kamalebo Etal 2019 Africanjo
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Received: 7 December 2017 | Revised: 15 October 2018 | Accepted: 17 January 2019 DOI: 10.1111/aje.12595 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Host plants and edaphic factors influence the distribution and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal fruiting bodies within rainforests from Tshopo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Héritier Milenge Kamalebo1,2 | Hippolyte Nshimba Seya Wa Malale1 | Cephas Masumbuko Ndabaga3 | Léon Nsharwasi Nabahungu4 | Jérôme Degreef5,6 | André De KeseL5 1Faculté des sciences, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, D R Congo Abstract 2Centre de Recherches Universitaires du Ectomycorrhizal fungi constitute an important component of forest ecosystems that Kivu (CERUKI)/ISP, Bukavu, D R Congo enhances plant nutrition and resistance against stresses. Diversity of ectomycorrhi‐ 3Faculté des sciences, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, D R Congo zal (EcM) fungi is, however, affected by host plant diversity and soil heterogeneity. 4International Institute of Tropical This study provides information about the influence of host plants and soil resources Agriculture, IITA‐Kalambo, Bukavu, D R on the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal fruiting bodies from rainforests of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo. Based on the presence of fungal fruiting bodies, 5Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgique 6Fédération Wallonie‐Bruxelles, Service significant differences in the number of ectomycorrhizal fungi species existed be‐ Général de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de tween forest stand types (p < 0.001). The most ectomycorrhizal species‐rich forest la Recherche Scientifique, Brussels, Belgium was the Gilbertiodendron dewevrei‐dominated forest (61 species). Of all 93 species of Correspondence ectomycorrhizal fungi, 19 demonstrated a significant indicator value for particular Héritier Milenge Kamalebo, Faculté des sciences, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, forest stand types. Of all analysed edaphic factors, the percentage of silt particles D R Congo. was the most important parameter influencing EcM fungi host plant tree distribution. Email:[email protected] Both host trees and edaphic factors strongly affected the distribution and diversity Funding information of EcM fungi. EcM fungi may have developed differently their ability to successfully Centre for International Forestry Research; Belgian Federal Science Policy Office colonise root systems in relation to the availability of nutrients. Résumé Dans les forêts, les champignons ectomycorrhiziens sont impliqués dans la nutrition et la protection des plantes hôtes contre les pathogènes. Leur diversité est influencée par la composition floristique et les facteurs édaphiques. Cette étude traite de l’influence des plantes hôtes et des facteurs édaphiques sur la diversité des sporo‐ phores des champignons ectomycorrhiziens dans les forêts denses de la République Démocratique du Congo. Se basant sur la présence de leurs sporophores, on note l’existence des différences significatives entre le nombre d’espèces de champignons ectomycorrhiziens dans les différents types des forêts (P<0.001). La forêt à Gilbertiodendron dewevrei se révèle la plus riche en espèces (61 espèces). Sur un total de 93 espèces de champignons ectomycorrhiziens, 19 sont inféodées aux types particuliers de forêts. La teneur en particules limoneuses est le paramètre édaphique Afr J Ecol. 2019;57:247–259. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/aje © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd | 247 248 | MILENGE KAMALEBO ET al. ayant plus d’influence sur la distribution des arbres hôtes des champignons. Le dével‐ oppement de la forêt à Brachystegia laurentii et les espèces des champignons ecto‐ mycorrhiziens associées étaient principalement influencé par la teneur en phosphore, alors que le développement des forêts dominées par Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, Uapaca guineensis et Julbernardia seretii était influencé par la teneur en particules sablonneuses. L’acidité aluminique, la teneur en particules limoneuses ainsi que la teneur en particules argileuses sont les paramètres ayant plus d’influence sur la présence des sporophores des champignons ectomycorrhiziens associés à Uapaca heudelotii. Les champignons ectomycorrhiziens ont probablement développé des ap‐ titudes particulières lesquelles leur ont permis de coloniser les systèmes racinaires, en relation avec les ressources minérales disponibles. KEYWORDS Congo basin, Ectomycorrhizal fungi, indicator species, rainforests, soil texture 1 | INTRODUCTION Kasongo, & Degreef, 2017; Härkönen et al., 2015; Piepenbring, 2015). Mycorrhizae constitute important symbiotic associations be‐ Local environmental factors may also affect EcM fungal diver‐ tween particular groups of fungi and roots of some plant species sity (Berruti et al., 2011; Brundrett, 2009; Burke, Lopez‐Gutiérrez, (Leguminosae, Phyllanthaceae, Gnetaceae and Dipterocarpaceae fami‐ & Chan, 1993; Fortin et al., 2008; Kernaghan, 2005). In tropical for‐ lies) in tropical Africa (Bâ, Duponnois, Diabaté, & Dreyfus, 2011; Eyi‐ ests, local‐scale biotic and abiotic factors including soil properties Ndong, Degreef, & De Kesel, 2011; Härkönen, Niemelä, Kotiranta, & and soil type play important roles in influencing the distribution of Pierce, 2015; Piepenbring, 2015; Yorou & Kesel 2011). The mutualis‐ both plant and fungal communities. EcM fungal communities are tic relation between plants and fungi plays a key role in the function‐ mainly affected by the diversity of host trees and the heterogene‐ ing of natural ecosystems, especially in nutrient cycling (Miyamoto, ity of soil resources (Berruti et al., 2011; Brundrett, 2009; Burke, Nakano, Hattori, & Nara, 2006; Peay, Kennedy, & Bruns, 1962; Smith Lopez‐Gutiérrez, & Chan, 2009). Moreover, species of EcM fungi et al., 2013; Smith, Jakobsen, Grønlund, & Smith, 2011; Tedersoo et can colonise diverse hosts and plant species can host several fungal al., 2014). Mycorrhizae enhance plant nutrition (especially phospho‐ species. rus and nitrogen), and increase a plants’ productivity and resistance Several studies (Bâ, Duponnois, Moyersoen, Duponnois, against stresses (Kernaghan, 2005; Miyamoto, Nakano, Hattori, & Moyersoen, & Diédhiou, 2011; Buyck, Buyck, Thoen, & Walting, Nara, 2014). In return, the mycorrhizal fungi benefit from photosyn‐ 1996; Ducousso, Bâ, & Thoen, 2003; Eyi‐Ndong et al., 2011; thetically derived carbohydrates made by the host plant (Alisson, Härkönen et al., 2015) have reported that, in tropical Africa, EcM Hanson, & Treseder, 2007; Kernaghan, 2005; Miyamoto et al., 2014). fungi are mainly distributed throughout the Guineo‐Congolian Plants develop several types of mycorrhizae with fungal species. basin rainforests, in the Zambezian Miombo woodlands of Eastern The most common and important are the arbuscular mycorrhizae and South central Africa, and in the Sudanian savannah woodlands. (AM) and the ectomycorrhizae (EcM) (Piepenbring, 2015). The ar‐ Furthermore, the semi‐deciduous rainforests of the Tshopo prov‐ buscular mycorrhizae penetrate root cells (Blakcwell, 2011; Berruti ince, part of the central African Congolese basin, host several spe‐ et al., 2011; Fortin, Plenchette, & Piché, 2008), while ectomycorrhi‐ cies of EcM trees (Bartholomew, Meyer, & Laudelout, 1999; White, zae develop widespread mycelial networks surrounding root tissues 1983) and are mainly dominated by Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (De in soil. In contrast to AM, EcM fungi develop aboveground fruiting Wild.) J. Léonard, Brachystegia laurentii (De Wild.) Louis, Julbernardia bodies, called sporocarps, and are mainly hosted by woody plant seretii (De Wild.) Troupin, Uapaca guineensis Mull. Arg. and U. heu‐ species (Fortin et al., 2008; Kernaghan, 2005; Piepenbring, 2015). delotii Baillon (Lejoly, Ndjele, & Geerinck, 2010; Vleminckx, 2014; The EcM fungal communities constitute an important component of White, 1983). Several other ectomycorrhizal trees (Afzelia bipin‐ many central African forests (Eyi‐Ndong et al., 2011) and play key densis Harms, Anthonotha macrophylla P. Beauv., Berlinia grandiflora roles in biogeochemical cycles, plant community dynamics and the (Vahl.) Hutch. & Dalz., etc.) occur in various mixed forests (Lejoly et maintenance of soil structure. Furthermore, as EcM fungi include a al., 2010; White, 1983). wide range of edible species, they constitute an important source of Despite the widespread distribution of this rainforest type and food and income for local populations (Berruti et al., 2011; De Kesel, the roles played by EcM fungi in these forests, no study on the MILENGE KAMALEBO ET al. | 249 relation between EcM fungi function, their host plants and soil prop‐ is mainly characterised by semi‐deciduous rainforests dominated erties exist from the rainforests of Tshopo. Yet, the assessment of by G. dewevrei, Scorodophloeus zenkeri Harms, Prioria balsamifera ecological patterns of EcM fungi is vital in enhancing conservation (Vermoesen) Breteler and J. seretii (Lejoly et al., 2010; Vleminckx et of both fungal communities and their host plants. The analysis of al., 2014; White, 1983). the relation between EcM fungi, host plant trees and soil is also vital As part of the equatorial region, the Tshopo province is charac‐ in the process of assisted cultivation of ectomycorrhizal plants and terised by a rainy and hot climate, typical of the Af type according EcM fungi inoculation. Thus, this study aims to analyse the impacts to Köppen (1923). The climate is characterised by monthly average of soil resources on the diversity and distribution of EcM fungi and temperature between 22.4 and 29.3°C,