Fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a proxy for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass: current challenges and ways forward

Ylva Lekberg; Erland Baath; Asa Frostegard; Edith Hammer; Katharina Hedlund; Jan Jansa; Christina Kaiser; Philip W.  Ramsey; Tomas Rezanka; Johannes Rousk; Hakan Wallander; Monika Wele; Pal Axel Olsson

doi:10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9

Fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a proxy for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass: current challenges and ways forward

Ylva Lekberg (Corresponding author), Erland Baath, Asa Frostegard, Edith Hammer, Katharina Hedlund, Jan Jansa, Christina Kaiser, Philip W. Ramsey, Tomas Rezanka, Johannes Rousk, Hakan Wallander, Monika Wele, Pal Axel Olsson

Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Abstract

Fatty acid biomarkers have emerged as a useful tool to quantify biomass of various microbial groups. Here we focus on the frequent use of the fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a biomarker for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soils. We highlight some issues with current applications of this method and use several examples from the literature to show that the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) 16:1ω5 can occur in high concentrations in soils where actively growing AM fungi are absent. Unless the study includes a control where the contribution of other microbes can be estimated, we advocate for the use of the neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) 16:1ω5. This biomarker has higher specificity, is more responsive to shifts in AM fungal biomass, and quantification can be conducted along with PLFA analysis without doubling analytical efforts. We conclude by contrasting various methods used to measure AM fungal biomass in soil and highlight future research needs to optimize fatty acid analyses.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	835-842
Number of pages	8
Journal	Biology and Fertility of Soils
Volume	58
Issue number	8
Early online date	3 Oct 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2022

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

106026 Ecosystem research

Keywords

PLFA 16
NLFA 16
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
biomass
gram negative bacteria
PLFA 16:1ω5
NLFA 16:1ω5
Biomass
Gram-negative bacteria
MEMBERS
NLFA 16:1 omega 5
COLONIZATION
BACTERIAL
METHYL-ESTER PROFILES
REAL-TIME PCR
MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES
CARBON ALLOCATION
SOIL
ROOTS
ACCUMULATION
PLFA 16:1 omega 5

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10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9

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Lekberg, Y., Baath, E., Frostegard, A., Hammer, E., Hedlund, K., Jansa, J., Kaiser, C., Ramsey, P. W., Rezanka, T., Rousk, J., Wallander, H., Wele, M., & Olsson, P. A. (2022). Fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a proxy for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass: current challenges and ways forward. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 58(8), 835-842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9

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abstract = "Fatty acid biomarkers have emerged as a useful tool to quantify biomass of various microbial groups. Here we focus on the frequent use of the fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a biomarker for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soils. We highlight some issues with current applications of this method and use several examples from the literature to show that the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) 16:1ω5 can occur in high concentrations in soils where actively growing AM fungi are absent. Unless the study includes a control where the contribution of other microbes can be estimated, we advocate for the use of the neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) 16:1ω5. This biomarker has higher specificity, is more responsive to shifts in AM fungal biomass, and quantification can be conducted along with PLFA analysis without doubling analytical efforts. We conclude by contrasting various methods used to measure AM fungal biomass in soil and highlight future research needs to optimize fatty acid analyses.",

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Lekberg, Y, Baath, E, Frostegard, A, Hammer, E, Hedlund, K, Jansa, J, Kaiser, C, Ramsey, PW, Rezanka, T, Rousk, J, Wallander, H, Wele, M & Olsson, PA 2022, 'Fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a proxy for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass: current challenges and ways forward', Biology and Fertility of Soils, vol. 58, no. 8, pp. 835-842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a proxy for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass: current challenges and ways forward

AU - Lekberg, Ylva

AU - Baath, Erland

AU - Frostegard, Asa

AU - Hammer, Edith

AU - Hedlund, Katharina

AU - Jansa, Jan

AU - Kaiser, Christina

AU - Ramsey, Philip W.

AU - Rezanka, Tomas

AU - Rousk, Johannes

AU - Wallander, Hakan

AU - Wele, Monika

AU - Olsson, Pal Axel

PY - 2022/11/1

Y1 - 2022/11/1

N2 - Fatty acid biomarkers have emerged as a useful tool to quantify biomass of various microbial groups. Here we focus on the frequent use of the fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a biomarker for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soils. We highlight some issues with current applications of this method and use several examples from the literature to show that the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) 16:1ω5 can occur in high concentrations in soils where actively growing AM fungi are absent. Unless the study includes a control where the contribution of other microbes can be estimated, we advocate for the use of the neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) 16:1ω5. This biomarker has higher specificity, is more responsive to shifts in AM fungal biomass, and quantification can be conducted along with PLFA analysis without doubling analytical efforts. We conclude by contrasting various methods used to measure AM fungal biomass in soil and highlight future research needs to optimize fatty acid analyses.

AB - Fatty acid biomarkers have emerged as a useful tool to quantify biomass of various microbial groups. Here we focus on the frequent use of the fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a biomarker for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soils. We highlight some issues with current applications of this method and use several examples from the literature to show that the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) 16:1ω5 can occur in high concentrations in soils where actively growing AM fungi are absent. Unless the study includes a control where the contribution of other microbes can be estimated, we advocate for the use of the neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) 16:1ω5. This biomarker has higher specificity, is more responsive to shifts in AM fungal biomass, and quantification can be conducted along with PLFA analysis without doubling analytical efforts. We conclude by contrasting various methods used to measure AM fungal biomass in soil and highlight future research needs to optimize fatty acid analyses.

KW - PLFA 16

KW - NLFA 16

KW - Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

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KW - gram negative bacteria

KW - PLFA 16:1ω5

KW - NLFA 16:1ω5

KW - Biomass

KW - Gram-negative bacteria

KW - MEMBERS

KW - NLFA 16:1 omega 5

KW - COLONIZATION

KW - BACTERIAL

KW - METHYL-ESTER PROFILES

KW - REAL-TIME PCR

KW - MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES

KW - CARBON ALLOCATION

KW - SOIL

KW - ROOTS

KW - ACCUMULATION

KW - PLFA 16:1 omega 5

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85139224187

U2 - 10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9

DO - 10.1007/s00374-022-01670-9

M3 - Article

SN - 0178-2762

VL - 58

SP - 835

EP - 842

JO - Biology and Fertility of Soils

JF - Biology and Fertility of Soils

IS - 8

ER -

Fatty acid 16:1ω5 as a proxy for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass: current challenges and ways forward

Abstract

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

Keywords

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