Effects of long-term CO2 fumigation on fungal communities in a temperate forest soil

This study aimed at determining the impact of long-time elevated CO2 fumigation on fungal communities in a temperate forest soil. In addition to the CO2 concentration, both time and its interaction with the CO2 affected the activity of 1,4-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase that is mainly of the fungal origin in the soil. No significant change in Shannon's indexes (from 18S rDNA-PCR–DGGE) was observed between the ambient and elevated CO2 treatments. Analysis of time-course indicated that the succession of soil fungal community was altered by the elevated CO2 fumigation, and the variations in the soil samples under Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc were larger than those under the Pinus sylvestriformis (Takenouchi) T. Wang ex Cheng samples. The results suggest that the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations could alter the temporal patterning of soil fungal communities.