Fungi that live in the soil have a memory and notice when a crop changes to a forest
Forests that occupy former fields and pastures are increasingly common in many areas of Spain. According to the latest State of Europe's Forests 2025 report, the forest area of western Europe has increased by 1% per year due to this cause. One example can be found in the Pinus nigra pine forests of the Pyrenees. These "new" forests expand spontaneously on abandoned land, but the soils in which they live retain the imprint of past uses . They tend to be degraded soils, more compacted and with a weaker community of microorganisms. This legacy can influence the functioning of ecosystems and the growth of vegetation for decades, as well as their ability to cope with the effects of climate change. Among the organisms most affected by these changes are soil fungi .
To better understand this phenomenon, the MITICFOR project , led by CREAF researcher Teresa Gimeno , is studying how fungi in soils with an agricultural or livestock past affect vegetation growth. The aim is to find out to what extent this soil "memory" conditions the response of trees to future climate conditions, especially the increase in droughts.
More than 400 miniature trees to simulate the future climate
More than 400 miniature trees to simulate the future climate
The project focuses on studying the role of fungi that live associated with tree roots in a symbiotic relationship, called ecomycorrhizal fungi . They help plants capture water and nutrients, while receiving part of the sugars that they produce during photosynthesis. All of this directly influences the growth of trees and their ability to store carbon.
To study this effect in detail, the project's experiments are carried out in the greenhouses of the IRTA Torre Marimon, facilities that allow the recreation of controlled environmental conditions and the simulation of extreme climate scenarios . The research team works with more than 400 holm oak ( Quercus ilex ) and beech (Fagus sylvatica ) seedlings, grown in soils inoculated with different fungal communities from forests with diverse histories of use . Some of the soils come from forests established on former agricultural fields or pastures, while others correspond to mature forests with long forest continuity.
During the experiments, the team studies plant growth, water use efficiency and physiological response under both normal and drought conditions. This will help identify which fungal communities help maintain vegetation function when there is less water .
In the future, these fungal "formulas" could be actively applied to restore degraded forest soils in an increasingly warm climate scenario with less water availability. The MITICFOR project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Universities.
La investigadora Teresa Gimeno ho explica ella mateixa en aquest Reel a Instagram:
WITH THE COLLABORATION OF:
WITH THE COLLABORATION OF:
RESEARCHER
Teresa Gimeno
I am a plant ecophysiologist and I am interested in how the different drivers of global change affect the functioning of vegetation and its interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment.
