Root ectomycorrhizal status of oak trees symptomatic and asymptomatic for Acute Oak Decline in southern Britain

Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is a decline-disease that has distinctive symptoms and poses serious threat to oak. Our understanding of the causal factors AOD remains poor but it likely multiple biotic abiotic contribute deterioration in oak condition. There evidence indications above-ground tree health status are frequently reflected below-ground roots associated ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities. However, no study yet explored these potential relationships specifically affected trees. In this study, we compare composition range functional exploration types ECM communities with symptomatic trees asymptomatic three oak-dominated woodlands southern England. We additionally assess abundance fine root tips surface soils beneath consider soil physico-chemical effects on The frequency was found be significantly higher compared two studied long-distance had weak positive association diversity were, however, unaffected by symptom were not related tips. compositional (but type) differences evident only between different small number chemistry variables. This revealed relationship (i.e. stem lesions Agrilus biguttatus exit holes) live tips, providing additional diagnostic tool decline highlighting importance considering belowground rhizosphere microbiome .