Open AccessNitrous oxide production by the ectomycorrhizal fungi Paxillus involutus and Tylospora fibrillosa
Author(s) -
PrendergastMiller Miranda T.,
Baggs Elizabeth M.,
Johnson David
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02187.x
Subject(s) - paxillus involutus , ectomycorrhiza , biology , botany , mycorrhiza , soil water , ecology , symbiosis , bacteria , genetics
Abstract Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) production by filamentous fungi has been demonstrated in pure culture and has been estimated indirectly in soils. However, it is unknown whether ectomycorrhizal fungi can also produce N 2 O. We demonstrate for the first time the ability of nitrogen (N)‐tolerant ectomycorrhizal fungi ( Paxillus involutus and Tylospora fibrillosa ), found in forest soils under moderate to high rates of N deposition, to produce N 2 O from nitrate reduction. The N 2 O concentrations from the ectomycorrhizal fungal treatments after a 10‐day pure culture experiment were 0.0117±0.00015 ( P. involutus ) and 0.0114±0.0003 ( T. fibrillosa ), and 0.0114±0.00043 μmol N 2 O L −1 from a known fungal denitrifier ( Fusarium lichenicola ). No N 2 O was detected in the control treatment. Our results indicate the potential for these two N‐tolerant ectomycorrhizal fungi to contribute to N 2 O production. Given that these species are abundant in many forest soils, the strength and regulation of fungal N 2 O production should now be verified in situ .