Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms
Morel mushrooms (<i>Morchella</i> spp.) are prized for their nutritional and medicinal value. Despite extensive research on their cultivation, the species’ impacts on the soil microbiota and minerals remain unclear. This study systematically evaluated six <i>Morchella</i> spe...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Yiwen Fu Muxin Fan Haiyan Qin Zeyu Zhang Shijun Liu Shuwen Wu Yun Wang Xia Yuan |
| author_facet | Yiwen Fu Muxin Fan Haiyan Qin Zeyu Zhang Shijun Liu Shuwen Wu Yun Wang Xia Yuan |
| author_sort | Yiwen Fu |
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| description | Morel mushrooms (<i>Morchella</i> spp.) are prized for their nutritional and medicinal value. Despite extensive research on their cultivation, the species’ impacts on the soil microbiota and minerals remain unclear. This study systematically evaluated six <i>Morchella</i> species, analyzing their effects on soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and mineral nutrients levels. The results showed that yield varied significantly among the species, with an order of <i>M. sextelata</i> > <i>M. exuberans</i> > <i>M. eximia</i> > <i>M. importuna</i> > <i>Mel-13</i> > <i>Mel-21</i>. Cultivation led to a consistent reduction in soil NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N levels, particularly in <i>M. eximia</i> and <i>Mel-13</i> (40–50% decrease), while NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N levels did not change significantly, indicating mycelial nitrate preference. Mineral nutrient alterations exhibited distinct species-dependent patterns, with <i>M. eximia</i> showing the greatest increase in exchangeable Ca, while <i>M. importuna</i> and <i>M. sextelata</i> caused the most obvious decreases in available B. <i>Morchella</i> species exerted more pronounced impacts on fungal than bacterial communities, evidenced by significant reductions in alpha diversity—particularly in high-yield <i>M. sextelata</i>—suggesting species-specific fungal inhibition. At the phylum level, consistent depletion of <i>Ascomycota</i> but enrichment of <i>Mortierellomycota</i> were noted. Moreover, correlation analyses identified significant positive associations between morel yield and both fungal community diversity and exchangeable Ca content. This implies that <i>Morchella</i> species restructures soil fungal communities through nutrient competition and mineral-mediated regulation, with calcium acting as a key modulator. Overall, by elucidating the interconnected ‘<i>Morchella</i> species–microbe–mineral’ relationships, this study highlights <i>Morchella</i> species’ distinct regulation of soil microecology, providing valuable insights for the selection of optimized species like <i>M. eximia</i> and targeted soil management in morel cultivation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2daa521137ce40a997662bd4b970368b |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-2daa521137ce40a997662bd4b970368b2025-08-20T03:27:40ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-05-0111640510.3390/jof11060405Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and MechanismsYiwen Fu0Muxin Fan1Haiyan Qin2Zeyu Zhang3Shijun Liu4Shuwen Wu5Yun Wang6Xia Yuan7School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaMorel mushrooms (<i>Morchella</i> spp.) are prized for their nutritional and medicinal value. Despite extensive research on their cultivation, the species’ impacts on the soil microbiota and minerals remain unclear. This study systematically evaluated six <i>Morchella</i> species, analyzing their effects on soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and mineral nutrients levels. The results showed that yield varied significantly among the species, with an order of <i>M. sextelata</i> > <i>M. exuberans</i> > <i>M. eximia</i> > <i>M. importuna</i> > <i>Mel-13</i> > <i>Mel-21</i>. Cultivation led to a consistent reduction in soil NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N levels, particularly in <i>M. eximia</i> and <i>Mel-13</i> (40–50% decrease), while NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N levels did not change significantly, indicating mycelial nitrate preference. Mineral nutrient alterations exhibited distinct species-dependent patterns, with <i>M. eximia</i> showing the greatest increase in exchangeable Ca, while <i>M. importuna</i> and <i>M. sextelata</i> caused the most obvious decreases in available B. <i>Morchella</i> species exerted more pronounced impacts on fungal than bacterial communities, evidenced by significant reductions in alpha diversity—particularly in high-yield <i>M. sextelata</i>—suggesting species-specific fungal inhibition. At the phylum level, consistent depletion of <i>Ascomycota</i> but enrichment of <i>Mortierellomycota</i> were noted. Moreover, correlation analyses identified significant positive associations between morel yield and both fungal community diversity and exchangeable Ca content. This implies that <i>Morchella</i> species restructures soil fungal communities through nutrient competition and mineral-mediated regulation, with calcium acting as a key modulator. Overall, by elucidating the interconnected ‘<i>Morchella</i> species–microbe–mineral’ relationships, this study highlights <i>Morchella</i> species’ distinct regulation of soil microecology, providing valuable insights for the selection of optimized species like <i>M. eximia</i> and targeted soil management in morel cultivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/405morelssoil microbessoil mineral elementssoil physicochemical properties |
| spellingShingle | Yiwen Fu Muxin Fan Haiyan Qin Zeyu Zhang Shijun Liu Shuwen Wu Yun Wang Xia Yuan Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms Journal of Fungi morels soil microbes soil mineral elements soil physicochemical properties |
| title | Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms |
| title_full | Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms |
| title_short | Interactions Between Morel Cultivation, Soil Microbes, and Mineral Nutrients: Impacts and Mechanisms |
| title_sort | interactions between morel cultivation soil microbes and mineral nutrients impacts and mechanisms |
| topic | morels soil microbes soil mineral elements soil physicochemical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/405 |
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