Ectomycorrhizal fungi of exotic Carya ovata in the context of surrounding native forests on Central European sites.

This research presents the first description of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community of the North American shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) tree growing outside its natural range. The diversity of ECM fungi associated with alien C. ovata stands was compared with the surrounding native oak–hornbeam forests. C. ovata, outside of its natural range, has a high ability to harbor and to retain compatible ECM fungal taxa. Eighty-nine ECM fungal taxa were identified in C. ovata stands along with 76 taxa in the surrounding multi-species native forests. Only 35% of taxa were shared between C. ovata and the surrounding forest, while 38% of taxa were identified only in C. ovata stands and 27% from the surrounding forest. We conclude that the remaining successfully acclimated plantations of exotic Carya trees in Poland may constitute a valuable pool of ECM fungi for native trees and thus contribute to the maintenance of fungal biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]