Diversity and functional plasticity of root-associated fungi of Pinus massoniana in bauxite mine restoration areas.

Root-associated fungi of Pinus massoniana in bauxite mine restoration areas exhibit high diversity and ecological plasticity, with 25 OTUs including traditional and atypical ectomycorrhizal fungi.

• Why it matters: Understanding the diversity and functional roles of fungi in stressed, degraded environments is crucial for improving ecological restoration strategies and plant resilience in mining sites.
• What they did: The study isolated and identified fungi from root tips and sporocarps using ITS sequencing, then tested their symbiotic capacity through seedling inoculation experiments, revealing multiple interaction modes.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that fungi in these environments can adopt various ecological roles, including ectomycorrhizal and alternative associations, highlighting their potential for aiding restoration efforts in disturbed habitats.