Extramatrical Mycelium and Ectomycorrhizal Community Composition of Quercus pubescens in a Sub-Mediterranean Stress-Prone Environment

Temporal studies that would offer insight into resilience of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities in stress prone climates are scarce despite their role tree nutrition and water supply. Our study characterized the vitality, community composition, diversity, function Quercus pubescens Willd. ECM fungi Sub-Mediterranean stress-prone environment for 2 consecutive years (June 2016–May 2018) related investigated measures to environmental parameters. was assessed species actively associating with root tips exploring soil volume through assessment mycelial ingrowth sand-filled mesh bags. The period by a drier than average summer combined wildfire 2016 followed another dry 2017. vital non-vital tip ratio decreased below one August remained low until January 2018. This ascribed series events occurred at site including sequential droughts wildfire. most abundant lineages on were Tomentella other Thelephoraceae, Sebacina , Cenococcum while bags Tomentella, Sebacina, Pseudotomentella Pyronemataceae, Inocybe, Cortinarius Agaricales, Boletales lineages. High intra-site variability observed, directly associated varying significantly among plots. Community composition stable over time, richness varied mean air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation. exploration type observed this short distance, which precipitation along long distance type. medium temporally variable responded temperature humidity reflecting seasonality site. presented results indicate complex relationships between parameters, abiotic stress, fungi.