Diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi recovered from the roots of oak trees in northern forests of Iran

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is essential for the establishment and functioning of trees in forest ecosystems. Despite widespread recognition of important roles of ectomycorrhizal fungi in improving plant nutrition, increasing the resistance of host plants to drought stress and suppressing of root pathogens, little studies have been carried out on the diversity of the fungal symbionts, especially in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in Iran. Identification of ectomycorrhizal fungi is the first step in all studies related to this symbiosis and is essential to exploit its maximum potential in forest management. The aim of this study was to identify the ECM fungal associating with oak trees (Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey., Q. macranthera Fisch. & C. A. Mey. ex Hohen. and Q. petraea L.) in the 6 locations of north forests of Iran. The ectomycorrhizal root tips of oak trees were collected for molecular identifications. Molecular analysis involved sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis with other sequences on website databases. A total of 207 root systems were sampled and documented high ectomycorrhizal diversity with a total of 49 taxa by Blast algorithm. These taxa belonging to 13 genus, including Amanita, Boletus, Cortinarius, Hebeloma, Hydnum, Hygrophorus, Inocybe, Laccaria, Lactarius, Lycoperdon, Russula, Scleroderma and Tricholoma. Species of Lactarius, Russula and Inocybe were diverse and dominant. Bayesian analysis confirmed the species-level and genius-level identification of 17 and 32 ectomycorrhizal fungi, respectively. This study documented high ectomycorrhizal diversity in Hyrcanian forests with oak trees