Responses of above- and below-ground fungal symbionts to cessation of mowing in subalpine grassland

• Published in: Fungal ecology 2017-02, Vol.25, p.14-21
• Main Authors: Binet, Marie-Noëlle, van Tuinen, Diederik, Souard, Florence, Sage, Lucile, Périgon, Sophie, Gallet, Christiane, Legay, Nicolas, Lavorel, Sandra, Mouhamadou, Bello
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community; Endophyte fungi; Grassland dynamics; Life Sciences
• ISSN: 1754-5048
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2016.10.001

The cessation of mowing in subalpine grasslands promotes the dominance of Festuca paniculata leading to the reduction in plant diversity. Moreover, it affects positively the abundance of Epichloë sp. inhabiting F. paniculata leaves and negatively the soil density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We explored how the cessation of mowing influences root AMF communities in F. paniculata and the neighboring plants, and Epichloë sp alkaloids. Thirteen AMF operational taxonomical units were found. The neighboring plants affected positively the abundances of Aalpin and GLOM_7 whereas the interaction plant/management type influenced significantly Claroide_1, GLOM_1 and GLOM_7. The N-formylnorloline, produced by Epichloë sp. increased in unmown grassland. Hence, the cessation of mowing, coinciding with the high abundance of endophyte alkaloid, affected root-associated AMF with differential responses at the abundance level. The N-formylnorloline could be one compound underpinning the dynamic of plant diversity with a resulting structuration of AMF in subalpine grasslands. •We studied the influence of the cessation of mowing on root AMF communities and endophyte alkaloids.•We found that it affected root AMF with differential responses at the abundance level.•It also affected the endophyte alkaloid displaying allelopathic effects.•Results suggest potential role of this alkaloid on the structuration of AMF.