Mycelium-mediated transfer of water and nutrients stimulates bacterial activity in dry and oligotrophic environments

Anja Worrich, Hryhoriy Stryhanyuk, Niculina Musat (), Sara König, Thomas Banitz, Florian Centler, Karin Frank, Martin Thullner, Hauke Harms, Hans-Hermann Richnow, Anja Miltner, Matthias Kästner and Lukas Y. Wick
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Anja Worrich: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Hryhoriy Stryhanyuk: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Niculina Musat: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Sara König: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Thomas Banitz: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Florian Centler: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Karin Frank: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Martin Thullner: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Hauke Harms: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Hans-Hermann Richnow: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Anja Miltner: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Matthias Kästner: UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Lukas Y. Wick: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Fungal–bacterial interactions are highly diverse and contribute to many ecosystem processes. Their emergence under common environmental stress scenarios however, remains elusive. Here we use a synthetic microbial ecosystem based on the germination of Bacillus subtilis spores to examine whether fungal and fungal-like (oomycete) mycelia reduce bacterial water and nutrient stress in an otherwise dry and nutrient-poor microhabitat. We find that the presence of mycelia enables the germination and subsequent growth of bacterial spores near the hyphae. Using a combination of time of flight- and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF- and nanoSIMS) coupled with stable isotope labelling, we link spore germination to hyphal transfer of water, carbon and nitrogen. Our study provides direct experimental evidence for the stimulation of bacterial activity by mycelial supply of scarce resources in dry and nutrient-free environments. We propose that mycelia may stimulate bacterial activity and thus contribute to sustaining ecosystem functioning in stressed habitats.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15472

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