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排放战略的重要组成部分，但我们对植物与土壤的相互作用知之甚少，而这种相互作用将决定在任何特定地点种植树木的成败。树木通常与外生菌根（ECM）或丛枝菌根（AM）真菌形成联系，它们与树木的根部形成亲密的共生关系，为树木提供营养以换取寄主植物的碳供应(C)。有大量证据表明，形成AM和ecm的植物对各种非生物和生物驱动因素的反应可能会发生偏差，这可能导致不同土壤条件下生长、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形成的树木可以驱动土壤生物地球化学的不同模式2，这与旨在最大化碳捕获的植树计划有关。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形成树木如何可能建立、生长和抵抗扰动，并随后推动种植场地的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.