Soil fungal networks moderate density‐dependent survival and growth of seedlings

Pathogenic and mutualistic fungi have contrasting effects on seedling establishment, but it remains unclear whether density-dependent survival growth are regulated by access to different types of mycorrhizal fungal networks supported neighbouring adult trees. Here, we conducted an extensive field survey test how pathogenic colonization arbuscular (AM) ectomycorrhizal (ECM) seedlings in a subtropical forest respond density In addition, undertook hyphal exclusion experiment explicitly the role soil driving survival. Conspecific was strong predictor for relative abundance putative pathogens, which greater roots AM than ECM seedlings, while were not consistently affected conspecific density. Both counteracted mortality, more effective at weakening negative high fungi. Our findings reveal critical common mitigating provides mechanistic insights into diversity shapes plant community structure forests.