Stuart et al. (2024): Non-mycorrhizal root-associated fungi increase soil C stocks and stability via diverse mechanisms
Emiko K. Stuart, Laura Castañeda-Gómez, Wolfram Buss, Jeff R. Powell, Yolima Carrillo IN: Biogeosciences, 21, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1037-2024
Here, with the aim of identifying novel organisms that could be introduced to crop plants to promote C sequestration, the authors assessed the soil C storage potential of 12 root-associated, non-mycorrhizal fungal isolates (spanning nine genera and selected from a wide pool based on traits potentially linked to soil C accrual) and investigated fungal, plant and microbial mediators. They grew wheat plants inoculated with individual isolates in chambers allowing continuous 13C labelling. After harvest, the authors quantified C storage potential by measuring pools of different origin (plant vs. soil) and different stability with long-term soil incubations and size/density fractionation. They assessed plant and microbial community responses as well as fungal physiological and morphological traits in a parallel in vitro study.