Symbiotic Fungi: Principles and Practice

444 Pages·2009·6.9 MB·English

Soil Biology
Volume 18
Series Editor
AjitVarma,AmityInstituteofMicrobialTechnology,
Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, UP, India
Volumespublishedintheseries
AppliedBioremediationandPhytoremediation(Vol.1)
A.Singh,O.P.Ward(Eds.)
BiodegradationandBioremediation(Vol.2)
A.Singh,O.P.Ward(Eds.)
MicroorganismsinSoils:RolesinGenesisandFunctions(Vol.3)
F.Buscot,A.Varma(Eds.)
InVitroCultureofMycorrhizas(Vol.4)
S.Declerck,D.-G.Strullu,J.A.Fortin(Eds.)
ManualforSoilAnalysis–MonitoringandAssessingSoilBioremediation(Vol.5)
R.Margesin,F.Schinner(Eds.)
IntestinalMicroorganismsofTermitesandOtherInvertebrates(Vol.6)
H.Ko¨nig,A.Varma(Eds.)
MicrobialActivityintheRhizosphere(Vol.7)
K.G.Mukerji,C.Manoharachary,J.Singh(Eds.)
NucleicAcidsandProteinsinSoil(Vol.8)
P.Nannipieri,K.Smalla(Eds.)
MicrobialRootEndophytes(Vol.9)
B.J.E.Schulz,C.J.C.Boyle,T.N.Sieber(Eds.)
NutrientCyclinginTerrestrialEcosystems(Vol.10)
P.Marschner,Z.Rengel(Eds.)
AdvancedTechniquesinSoilMicrobiology(Vol.11)
A.Varma,R.Oelmu¨ller(Eds.)
MicrobialSiderophores(Vol.12)
A.Varma,S.Chincholkar(Eds.)
MicrobiologyofExtremeSoils(Vol.13)
P.Dion,C.S.Nautiyal(Eds.)
SecondaryMetabolitesinSoilEcology(Vol.14)
P.Karlovsky(Ed.)
MolecularMechanismsofPlantandMicrobeCoexistence(Vol.15)
C.S.Nautiyal,P.Dion(Eds.)
PermafrostSoils(Vol.16)
R.Margesin(Ed.)
AdvancesinAppliedBioremediation(Vol.17)
A.Singh,R.C.Kuhad,O.P.Ward(Eds.)
Ajit Varma Amit C. Kharkwal
l
Editors
Symbiotic Fungi
Principles and Practice
Editors
Prof.Dr.AjitVarma Dr.AmitC.Kharkwal
DirectorGeneral Lecturer
AmityInstituteofMicrobialTechnology AmityInstituteofMicrobialTechnology(AIMT)
AmityUniversityUttarPradesh AmityUniversityUttarPradesh(AUUP)
&ViceChairman Sector125
AmityScience,Technology& Noida,UP201303
InnovationFoundation India
BlockA,AmityCampus,Sector125 [email protected]
Noida,UP201303
India
[email protected]
ISSN:1613-3382
ISBN978-3-540-95893-2 e-ISBN978-3-540-95894-9
DOI:10.1007/978-3-540-95894-9
SpringerHeidelbergDordrechtLondonNewYork
SoilBiology
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2009926002
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Foreword
Soold,sonew...
More than 450 million years ago, plants and fungi associated to produce a
mutuallybeneficialsymbiosisthatassistedplantstoinvadetheterrestrialenviron-
ment,whichwaspoorinnutrientsandsubjecttodesiccationandfullsunlight.This
is one of the main lessons that fossil records have transmitted to us, thanks to the
reports of many paleontologists, starting with Kidston and Lang (1921). Their
wonderful observations, which have been confirmed by many others, provided
theevolutionarybackgroundtounderstandhowmycorrhizasareapowerfuldriving
forceforthefunctioningofecosystems,supplyinglandplantswithphosphorusand
nitrogen,aswellasfungiwithcarbon,whichfinallyaccumulatesinthesoil.
Ontheotherhand,fewbiologicalissueshaveenteredthemainstreamofbiology
in such a vigorous way as mycorrhizas. Mainly thanks to DNA technologies and
genomics,newtoolstodiscoversymbiontcommunication,developmentanddiver-
sityandtorevealthecontributionofeachpartnertothefunctioningoftheassocia-
tion have been deciphered, thus offering breakthrough findings. Looking at the
historyofmycorrhizas,itcanbeseenthatsomeveryimportanteventshavemarked
recent years: the first sequenced genome of Laccaria laccata (Martin et al. 2008)
opened a window on the secrets of ectomycorrhizal fungi thriving in forests and
associatedwithwoodyplants;theidentificationoftheplantgenesthatcontrolthe
signaltransductionpathwaysinarbuscularmycorrhizal(AM)legumeshasallowed
ustodissectthecrucialstepsofthefungalcolonizationprocess(Parniske2008);the
discoverythatplantmolecules,strigolactones,areperceivedbyAMfungiandact
as‘‘branchingfactors’’(Akiyamaetal.2005)representsalandmarkinourknowl-
edge,buthasalsoledtoasecondveryrecentdiscovery.Strigolactoneshavebeen
foundtoimpacttheplantphenotype,representinganovelclassofendogenousplant
hormones that are present in a wide range of angiosperms from Arabidopsis
thalianatorice(Gomez-Roldanetal.2008;Umeharaetal.2008).
But mycorrhizas also go beyond the issue of plant/fungal biology by occupying
newfields,likethatofenvironmentalmicrobiology,andbypushingthedevelopment
ofnewapproaches,likethoserequiredformetagenomics.Whilethefoundationsetup
by Craig Venter, the world-renowned genome research pioneer (www.jcvi.org/),
v
vi Foreword
hastheaimofexploringthemicrobialdiversityintheworld’soceans,thedreamof
soilmicrobiologistsinsteadistounderstandwhatthecreaturesthatliveinthesoil
aredoingthere(Dance2008).However,intherhizosphere,thethinsoillayerwhere
roots and soil microbes interact (Little et al. 2008), mycorrhizal fungi with their
diverseguildsofassociatedmicrobes(bacteria,endophytes,saprotrophs)prolifer-
ate and dominate. To detect and quantify microbes in this environment, where
researchersbelievetheycanfindtheworld’swidestbiodiversity(Dance2008),will
beoneofthemostexcitingchallengesforthescientificcommunityworkinginthe
mycorrhizalfield.Thiswillmeanovercomingsomeofthereductionismsrelatedto
laboratorypracticesandmovingintothefield,usingupdatedhigh-throughputDNA
sequencing technologies and large-scale genomic analysis. The development of
such new platforms could lead to new paradigms, i.e. the description of mycor-
rhizasastheresultofmultipleorganisminteractionsandfunctioning.
Thechaptersinthisbookmirrorthismixtureofoldandnewconcepts,starting
from the seminal concept of symbiosis, which is central in the evolution of
complexityandiscriticaltothelifestylesofmanyanimalsandplants,andalsoto
whole ecosystems, in which symbiotic organisms are key players (Moran 2006).
The main aim of the book, however, is to combine the impetuous increase in
knowledge concerning mycorrhizas with the best laboratory practices. Expert
researchersillustratethemostupdatedtechniquestodealwithold/newquestions.
Lastly,researchersenjoyinvestigatingmycorrhizassincetheyareawareoftheir
importance on the sustainability of our ecosystem. In this context, some chapters
aredevotedtotechnologiesaimedatimprovingthequalityofmycorrhizalinocula,
thusincreasingtheirapplicationrangeintheframeofamorefriendlyagriculture.
ThisSoilBiologyvolumecansurelyoffermanyrepliestothecurrentquestions
concerningthewayinwhichwecanunlockthepotentialofmycorrhizalfungi,in
ordertomakethemaresourcethatwillbecomeavailabletoeverybody.
Torino
January2009
PaolaBonfante
References
Akiyama K, Matsuzaki KI, Hayashi H (2005)Plant sesquiterpenes induce hyphal branching in
arbuscularmycorrhizalfungi.Nature435:824–827
DanceA(2008)Whatliesbeneath.Nature455:724–725
Gomez-RoldanV,FermasS,BrewerPB,etal.(2008)Strigolactoneinhibitionofshootbranching
Nature455:189–194
KidstonR,LangWH(1921)OnOldRedSandstoneplantsshowingstructure,fromtheRhynie
Chertbed,Aberdeenshire.PartV.TheThallophytaoccuringinthepeat-bed;thesuccessionof
the plants throughout a vertical section of the bed, and the conditions of accumulation and
preservationofthedeposit.TransRSocEdinb52:855–902
Foreword vii
Little AE, Robinson CJ, Peterson SB, Raffa KF, Handelsman J (2008) Rules of engagement:
interspeciesinteractionsthatregulatemicrobialcommunities.AnnuRevMicrobiol62:375–401
MartinF,AertsA,Ahre´nD,BrunA,DanchinEG,etal.(2008)ThegenomeofLaccariabicolor
providesinsightsintomycorrhizalsymbiosis.Nature452:88–92
MoranNA(2006)Symbiosis.CurrBiol16:R866–R871
Parniske M (2008) Arbuscular mycorrhiza: the mother of plant root endosymbioses. Nat Rev
Microbiol6:763–775
UmeharaM,HanadaA,YoshidaS,AkiyamaKetal.(2008)Inhibitionofshootbranchingbynew
terpenoidplanthormones.Nature455:195–200
Preface
It has been a pleasure to edit this manual. The final outcome is the result of our
painstaking effortsinvolving a passionate discussion with eminent scientists from
across the globe working on symbiosis, students and fellow colleagues. The first
edition of Mycorrhiza Manual edited by Ajit Varma was published in 1998 by
Springer. This new edition is published as a volume under the banner of the Soil
Biology series as Symbiotic Fungi: Principles and Practice. The timing of the
present edition has coincided with tremendous technical progress that has been
madeintheareaoffungalsymbiosis.ThethirdeditionofMycorrhiza—Genetics
and Molecular Biology, Eco-Function, Biotechnology, Eco-Physiology, Structure
and Systematics, edited by Ajit Varma, appeared in July 2008. This leads to
enormous demand for the protocol book to carry out the laboratory exercises and
fieldtrials.
Growing on mineral particles and decaying organic matter, and living in the
vicinity of or within plant roots, are a diverse array of fungal species, many of
which form diverse symbiotic associations with plant roots. These symbiotic
associations that form between the roots of most plant species and fungi are very
well-known.Theyarecharacterizedbybi-directionalmovementofnutrientswhere
carbon flows to the fungus and inorganic nutrients move to the plant, thereby
providing a critical linkage between the plant root and soil. In infertile soils,
nutrientstakenupbythefungicanleadtoimprovedplantgrowthandreproduction.
Asaresult,theseassociationsareoftenmorecompetitiveandbetterabletotolerate
environmental stresses than other plants. The book contains the current state of
practiceonmanyaspectsofsymbioticfungiandassociatedmicrobes.Itdealswith
organismic interactions, diversity of microbial communities, mycorrhizal bioas-
says, nutrient transfer techniques, restoration ecology, AM inoculum procedures,
biotechnologicalapplication,microbialcommunicationandmushroomtechnology.
Itwillbeofinteresttoadiverseaudienceofresearchersandinstructors,especially
biologists, biochemists, agronomist, foresters, horticulturists, mycologists, soil
scientists,plantphysiologists,microbiologistsandmolecularbiologists.
It is hoped that the protocols proposed by the authors will stimulate further
research, as the information presented tends to highlight both the need for further
ix
x Preface
work in this challenging field and the lack of agreement on some fundamental
issues.
Inplanning thisvolume, invitationsfor contributionswere extended toleading
international authorities working with symbiotic fungi. We would like to express
oursincereappreciationtoeachcontributorforhis/herwork,andfortheirpatience
andattentiontodetailduringtheentireproductionprocess.Wesincerelyhopethese
eminentcontributorswillencourageusinthefutureaswell,inthegreatestinterest
ofacademia.
TheencouragementandinspirationreceivedfromDr.AshokKChauhan(Founder
President, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation), Sri Atul Chauhan (Chancellor,
Amity University Uttar Pradesh), and Sri Aseem Chauhan (Chancellor, Amity
University Rajasthan) need special mention. We are extremely grateful to the staff
membersofSpringerHeidelberg,especiallyDieterCzeschlikandJuttaLindenborn,
fortheircontinuedinterest,criticalevaluation,constructivecriticismandsupport.We
wish to acknowledge the help and support given to us by our students, faculty
colleagues,familymembersandfriendsfortheirconstantencouragement.
AmityUniversityUttarPradesh,India AjitVarma
January2009 AmitC.Kharkwal