A5035543242- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Climate change and permafrost
- Geological Studies and Exploration
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Plant Ecology and Soil Science
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Agriculture, Plant Science, Crop Management
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Diatoms and Algae Research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Forest Management and Policy
University of Vienna
2019-2024
Plant roots release recent photosynthates into the rhizosphere, accelerating decomposition of organic matter by saprotrophic soil microbes ('rhizosphere priming effect') which consequently increases nutrient availability for plants. However, about 90% all higher plant species are mycorrhizal, transferring a significant fraction their directly to fungal partners. Whether mycorrhizal fungi pass on plant-derived carbon (C) bacteria in root-distant areas, i.e. incite 'hyphosphere effect', is not...
The analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) is one the most common methods used to quantify abundance, and analyse community structure, soil microbes. PLFA extraction method can yield two additional lipid fractions—neutral lipids glycolipids—which potentially hold additional, valuable information on microbial communities. Yet its quantitative sensitivity complete neutral (NLFA) glycolipid acid (GLFA) profiles has never been validated. In this study we tested (i) if high-throughput be...
Warming increases soil microbial respiration which leads to significant C loss. However, it has been shown that the initial increase in tends level off long term, sometimes even returning pre-warming levels. Two main hypotheses explain this short-lived thermal increase: (i) The concentration of substrate soils declines due increased activity, becoming a limiting factor and leading reduced overall respiration, or (ii) Microbial physiology adjusts higher temperatures improve fitness under new...
Root exudation increases the concentration of readily available carbon (C) compounds in its immediate environment. This creates 'hotspots' microbial activity characterized by accelerated soil organic matter turnover with direct implications for nutrient availability plants. However, our knowledge metabolic processes occurring vicinity roots during and after a root event is still limited. Using reverse microdialysis, we simulated releasing a13C-labelled mix low-molecular-weight C at mm-sized...
Ectomycorrhizal plants trade plant-assimilated carbon for soil nutrients with their fungal partners. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not fully understood. Here we investigate the exchange of nitrogen in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis Fagus sylvatica across different spatial scales from root system to cellular level. We provided 15 N-labelled mycorrhizal hyphae associated one half young beech trees, while exposing a 13 CO2 atmosphere. analysed short-term distribution C and N isotope-ratio...
Plant roots release a variety of low-molecular weight compounds, such as sugars, amino acids or organic into the soil, impacting microbial activities and physico-chemical soil processes in their surroundings. These compounds are source easily available Carbon (C) energy for microbes, potentially accelerating decomposition matter immediate vicinity roots. However, knowledge about root exudation hotspots remains limited due to experimental difficulties investigating soil. Microdialysis,...
Bacteria colonize plant roots and engage in reciprocal interactions with their hosts. However, the contribution of individual taxa or groups bacteria to nutrition fitness is not well characterized due a lack situ evidence bacterial activity. To address this knowledge gap, we developed an analytical approach that combines identification localization on root surfaces via gold-based hybridization correlative NanoSIMS imaging incorporated stable isotopes, indicative metabolic We incubated...
Abstract Ectomycorrhizal fungi live in close association with their host plants and form complex interactions bacterial/archaeal communities soil. We investigated whether abundant or rare ectomycorrhizal on root-tips of young beech trees ( Fagus sylvatica ) shape communities. sequenced 16S rRNA genes fungal internal transcribed spacer regions individual used ecological networks to detect the tendency certain assemblies taxa inhabit same root-tip (i.e. modularity). Individual hosted distinct...
Carbon storage is a common strategy of soil microbes to cope with resource fluctuations. Fungi use neutral lipids (triacylglycerols, TAGs) for storage, which can be quantified via their derived fatty acids (NLFAs). NLFAs specific bacteria also abundant in soils, but are rarely analysed as assumed not store TAGs. Instead, bacterial thought derive from degraded phospholipids (diacylglycerols, DAGs), and thus indicate necromass, this interpretation lacks evidence. In perspective, we synthesise...
Sugars and organic acids, primary components in plant root exudates, are thought to enhance microbial decomposition of matter the rhizosphere. However, their specific impacts on activity nutrient mobilisation remain poorly understood. Here, we simulated passive exudation investigate distinct effects sugars acids metabolism We released 13C-labelled and/or via reverse microdialysis into intact meadow forest soils over 6-hours. measured substrate-induced respiration, soil mineralization,...
Many agroecosystems face nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) deficiencies due to imbalanced insufficient nutrient replenishment after plant biomass harvest. How this affects the symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), abundance of exploration-based AMF guilds (i.e., rhizophilic, edaphophilic, ancestral) remains largely unknown. We studied a 70-year nutrient-deficiency experiment in managed grassland central Austria, where aboveground was harvested three...
Soil microbial communities are regularly exposed to sudden changes in environmental conditions, such as root exudation pulses or freeze-thaw events. As have a high potential adapt changing they expected be resilient towards this kind of short-term perturbations and return their pre-perturbed state quickly. Here, we conducted lab incubation experiment evaluate the resilience soil single-pulse perturbations. We incubated temperate forest at constant temperature (20 °C) water content, it strong...
<p>Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) are widely used as biomarkers for soil microbial biomass. In more recent years, neutral lipid (NLFA) have additionally been storage biomarkers. Both classes usually separated via silica solid phase extraction (SPE) after with a mixture of chloroform, methanol and citric acid buffer. However, in years several studies reported incomplete or inconsistent separation classes, depending on minor differences the polarity eluents during SPE. Moreover,...
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualistic associations with roughly 70% of vascular plant species, supporting the nutrient acquisition their host plants and deriving carbon in return. AMF communities are linked to each other by host-specificity ecological selection favorable trading strategies. Changing soil availabilities can affect both directly also indirectly via response partners.  We aimed elucidate combined (belowground) (aboveground) community compositions changing...