The abundance of microscopic fungi in soil of different tree stands

Abstract

Microscopic saprophytic fungi are dominant in forest soil, where fungal community compositions differed within tree species and soil quality. Trichoderma Pers. Ex Fr. are often predominant components of the soil mycobiota, where they are involved in a number of processes, like humic acid synthesis and degradation of xenobiotics and has the ability to attack or inhibit other fungi also. The abundance of microscopic fungi in the top layer of mineral soil, of 15 native and alien tree species stands of dendropark, was investigated in spring and autumn season in 2017–2018. The most abundant microscopic fungi were in Thuja occidentalis L., Betula pendula and Larix sibirica Lebed. stands soil and the least one in Tilia cardata Mill., Fraxinus americana L. and Sorbus intermedia (Ehrh.) Pers. stands soil. Penicillum Link and Trichoderma genera were found in the soil of all the considered stands. The highest number of fungal genera was identified in the soil of Alnus glutinosa L., Larix sibirica Lebed., Thuja occidentalis L. and the lowest in Aesculus hippocastanum L.) and Quercus robur L. The most frequent Trichoderma genus fungi was identified in the soil of native broad-leaf tree species stands – Quercus robur L., Acer platanoides L. and Tilia cardata Mill. The least number – in the soil of birch (Betulaceae) family and coniferous tree stands. The research results revealed that the Trichoderma genus fungi had a negative effect on biodiversity and general abundance of microscopic fungi in the soil of the considered tree stands.