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Ascomycota and Basidiomycota as key drivers of soil microbial stability under extreme soil moisture and temperature fluctuations

Luisa M. Manici,Francesco Caputo,Bruno Morello,Mirko Castellini,Simone Ugo Maria Bregaglio

Published 2025 in Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Soil fungi tolerate drought better than bacteria, making them vital for climate-related soil studies. This study examined the responses of the two most abundant fungal phyla in topsoil, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, to extreme temperature and moisture conditions under controlled conditions. Two soils from the same geographic region but with contrasting land-use histories (ploughed vs. unploughed) were analysed. Initial fungal and bacterial biomass quantifications in terms of rRNA gene copy number showed that fungi were more stable than bacterial biomass under the imposed abiotic stress, highlighting their key role in soil microbial resilience. Further analysis using phylum-specific primers and digital PCR revealed that the Ascomycota phylum experienced stable growth under simulated extreme fluctuations in soil moisture. In contrast, the biomass of Basidiomycota doubled under water-stressed conditions compared to optimal field conditions. However, under flooding and abnormally hot conditions, it halved. Ascomycota, which is largely composed of spore-dispersed fungi that prevail in ploughed soils, contributes to microbial stability during extreme events. Basidiomycota, on the other hand, has an underestimated capacity to sustain microbial biomass through prolonged drought. The findings highlight the crucial role of forest and conservation-oriented land uses where Basidiomycetes thrive, in enhancing soil microbial stability as drought progressively increases.

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