Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Assemblages of Nursery-Grown Scots Pine are Influenced by Age of the Seedlings

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most widely distributed species in Europe and relevant terms of planted areas harvest yields. Therefore, each year demand for planting stock exceedingly high, large quantities seedlings are produced annually throughout to carry out reforestation afforestation programs. Abundant diverse ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis critical success once field. To improve our knowledge ECM fungi that inhabit bare-root nursery understand factors influence their diversity, we studied assemblages present across 23 forest nurseries Poland. Nursery samples were characterized by a high level colonization (nearly 100%), total 29 fungal taxa found on 1- 2-year-old seedlings. The diversity community depended substantially age seedlings, richness varied from 3–10 1-year-old 6–13 communities developed prevalence Ascomycota over Basidiomycota members All ecological indices (diversity, dominance, evenness) significantly affected likely because dominant morphotypes (Wilcoxina mikolae) replaced other ones (e.g., Suillus luteus, Rhizopogon roseolus, Thelephora terrestris, Hebeloma crustuliniforme), mostly Basidiomycota, Across all nurseries, negative correlations identified metrics soil N or C, indicating mineral organic fertilization contributes differences nurseries. We discuss practical implications composition occurring pine.