Fungi at land use gradient in temperate region of central Nepal

Sujan BALAMI, MSc.

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

The aim of this thesis is to summarize worldwide studies regarding land use change impact on the soil fungal communities. Second, to evaluate the effect of land use change, particularly abandoned agricultural land, on soil and fine roots fungal communities in the temperate region of central Nepal. Lastly, to contribute to the knowledge on the Nepal mycobiota by describing new species from the study area. Reviewed studies showed a negative response of fungal quantitative parameters after land use change from less-intensive site management to intensive site management and mostly significant shifts in the fungal community composition. Due to dependence on the local context, current knowledge is insufficient to generalize the effect of single land use change on fungi. In central Nepal, the community composition of soil fungi on permanent plots in abandoned agricultural land differed significantly from that of agricultural land and seminatural forests. The fungal succession is not expected to be straightforward because the fungal community in long-term regenerated forests differed from other land use type by having a higher proportion of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, abundant ectomycorrhizal fungi, and different soil properties. Focusing on tree species level, land use had a significant effect on arbuscular and total fungi associated with the roots of economically important trees accompanying succession, Alnus nepalensis and Schima wallichi. This effect was more pronounced than tree species identity. Low ectomycorrhizal fungal morphotype diversity was found in fine roots of A. nepalensis. Although the effect of land use on the ectomycorrhizal fungal community was not significant, sequences of Cortinarius spp. were significantly more abundant in forests than in the other land use types. Three ectomycorrhizal fungi Alnicola alni-nepalensis, Cortinarius nepalensis, and Lactarius alni-nepalensis were described as new species associated with Alnus nepalensis.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 2. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Mgr. Martina Vašutová, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Doctoral programme / field:
Botany / Botany