The influence of fungal networks on the success of tree-planting schemes

雄心勃勃的植树计划是英国政府净零战略的关键部分，但我们对决定在任何给定地点种植的树木成败的植物-土壤相互作用知之甚少。树木通常与外生菌根(ECM)或丛枝菌根(AM)真菌形成共生关系，这些真菌与树木的根形成亲密的共生关系，为树木提供营养，以换取宿主植物提供的碳(C)。有大量证据表明，AM和ECM形成的植物对各种非生物和生物驱动因素的反应可能会出现偏差，这可能会导致不同土壤条件下的生长、建立和恢复能力的差异。此外，越来越多的证据还表明，AM和ECM造树可以驱动不同的土壤生物地球化学模式2，这与旨在最大限度地捕获碳的植树计划有关。该项目旨在阐明关键的非生物和生物驱动因素，这些驱动因素将决定ECM或AM形成树可能如何建立、生长和抵抗干扰，并随后在种植地点驱动C循环。

Ambitious tree-planting schemes are a key part of the UK Government's Net Zero Strategy, but we understand little about the plant-soil interactions that will govern the success or failure of a tree planted in any given location. Trees typically form associations with either ectomycorrhizal (ECM) or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which form intimate symbioses with the tree's roots, providing the tree with nutrients in exchange for a supply of carbon (C) from the host plant. There is substantial evidence to suggest that AM and ECM-forming plants can deviate in their response to various abiotic and biotic drivers1, potentially leading to differences in growth, establishment and resilience across soil conditions. Furthermore, growing evidence also suggests that AM and ECM forming trees can drive divergent patterns of soil biogeochemistry2, which is of relevance to tree planting schemes aimed at maximising C capture. This project aims to elucidate the key abiotic and biotic drivers that will determine how ECM or AM-forming trees are likely to establish, grow and resist perturbation, and subsequently drive C-cycling in planted sites.