Fungal Microbiome of Alive and Dead Korean Fir in its Native Habitats

A rapid decline of has been reported in most of the natural alpine habitats in Korea. It is generally accepted that this phenomenon is due to climate change even though no clear conclusions have been drawn. Most research has focused on abiotic environmental factors, but studies on the relationships between and soil fungal microbiomes are scarce. In this study, the rhizoplane and rhizosphere fungal communities in the alive and dead Korean fir trees from its three major natural habitats including Mt. Deogyu, Mt. Halla, and Mt. Jiri in Korea were investigated to identify specific soil fungal groups closely associated with . Soil fungal diversity in each study site was significantly different from another based on the beta diversity calculations. Heat tree analysis at the genus level showed that , , and were most abundant in the healthy trees probably by forming ectomycorrhizae with Korean fir growth and controlling pests and diseases. However, , , , , , , , and were abundant in the dead trees. Our findings suggested that , , and are the major players that could be considered in future reforestation programs to establish ectomycorrhizal networks and promote growth. These genera may have played a significant role in the survival and growth of in its natural habitats. In particular, the genus may account for the death of the seedlings. Our work presented exploratory research on the specific fungal taxa associated with the status of .