Plant species govern mycorrhizal fungal community and bacterial community structures in boreal forest. rhizosphere metagenome

The study investigated the effects of the most common boreal forest ericoid plants; heather, blueberry and lingonberry and their mycorrhizal fungi on the soil microbial communities and compared them to the effects of Scots pine and non-planted humus soil. Roots, fungi and the associated bacteria, although not well known, interact together degrading effectively soil organic matter and thus affect the nutrient cycles of e.g. carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Soil microbial communities and their diversities are in key role when soil organic matter decomposition and changes in soil C pools are evaluated.