Metagenomic Analysis of microbial Communities Inhabiting the Fairy Ring Zone of Tricholoma matsutake

Tricholoma matsutake, an ectomycorrhizal fungus that has mutual relationships with the rootlet of Pinus denisflora, forms a fruiting body that serves as a very valuable food in Asia. However, the artificial culture of this fungus has not been successful. Soil microorganisms, including T. matsutake, coexist with many other microorganisms and plants; therefore, complex microbial communities have an influence on the fruiting body formation of T. matsutake. We investigated structure of microbial communities (Archaea, Bacteria, and Fungi) associated with the fairy ring of T. matsutake through the pyrosequencing method. The results of metagenomic analysis based on the pyrosequencing method indicate a changes of microbial communities depending on the fairy ring growth of T. matsutake.