Data from: The litter C/N ratio governs the dual role of Ectomycorrhizal fungi in decomposition and plant nutrition absorption
Data files
Apr 27, 2026 version files 33.69 KB
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Hyphal_effect_on_decomposition_data.csv
5.35 KB
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hyphal_effect_on_pant_data.csv
744 B
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Litter_data.csv
23.70 KB
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Plant_data.csv
1.03 KB
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README.md
2.87 KB
Abstract
Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) modulate litter decomposition in a manner dependent on litter chemistry and facilitate nutrient acquisition through the soil–mycorrhiza–plant pathway. However, how litter carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio regulates EcMF-induced decomposition and subsequent plant growth remains unclear. Using a microcosm experiment with five litter types, we assessed decomposition rates, C and N loss, microbial biomass, enzyme activities, and plant growth under ectomycorrhizal and non-ectomycorrhizal seedlings. Results indicated that effects of EcMF on litter decomposition were litter-specific and time-dependent. After 120 days, EcMF enhanced decomposition of low C/N litters (Carex breviculmis, Lindera glauca, and Liquidambar formosana) by 13–28%, but suppressed that of high C/N litters (Quercus acutissima and Pinus massoniana) by 19–20%. Initially (30 days), EcMF inhibited low C/N litter decomposition, later shifting to promotion, whereas high C/N litter decomposition was consistently suppressed. Correlation analysis revealed that the hyphal effects correlated negatively with litter stage C/N ratio. EcMF significantly increased plant N content and biomass under low C/N litters (biomass increased by 20–30%), but only marginally enhanced biomass under high C/N litters (14–16%) without improving N content. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling revealed that EcMF promoted C and N release from low C/N litter, thereby increasing N availability and plant growth. Even under high C/N conditions, EcMF directly supported plant growth despite suppressed decomposition. These findings underscore the dual roles of EcMF, which are regulated by litter C/N ratio, in mediating decomposition and plant nutrient acquisition, highlighting the importance of litter–microbe interactions in forest nutrient cycling and productivity.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3tx95x6vp
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset comprises four CSV files. The "Litter.csv" file contains data on mass loss, enzyme activity, and microbial respiration for five types of litter at different decomposition stages (30, 60, 90, and 120 days). The "Hyphal effect on decomposition data.csv" file provides the effect sizes of ectomycorrhizal fungi on mass loss, respiration rate, and enzyme activity for five litter types across the decomposition stages. The "Plant data.csv" file includes plant biomass and nitrogen content data when grown with different types of litter as substrate. The "hyphal effect on plant data.csv" file contains the effect sizes of ectomycorrhizal fungi on plant dry weight and nitrogen content under the five litter treatments.
Files and variables
File: Litter_data.csv
Variables
- Treatment: Different types of litter, the presence or absence of ectomycorrhizal fungi and the sampling time
- mass remaining (%): Percentage of remaining litter mass
- C remaining (%): Percentage of remaining litter C
- N remaining (%): Percentage of remaining litter N
- BG (µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹): β-glucosidase activity
- CBH (µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹): cellobiohydrolase activity
- PPO (µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹): polyphenoloxidase
- POD (µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹): peroxidase
- LAP (µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹): leucineaminopeptidase
- NAG (µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹): β-N-acetylglucosaminidase
- SIR (μl CO2 h-1 g-1): Microbial respiration
- N (%): Content of N in litter
- C/N: litter C/N ratio
File: Hyphal_effect_on_decomposition_data.csv
Variables
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Treatment: Different types of litter and the sampling time
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hyphal effect on massloss: hyphal effect on massloss of litter
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hyphal effect on SIR: hyphal effect on microbial respiration
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hyphal effect on CEEA: hyphal effect on carbon-acquiring extracellular enzyme activities
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hyphal effect on OEEA: hyphal effect on nitrogen-acquiring extracellular enzyme activities
hyphal effect on NEEA: hyphal effect on oxidative extracellular enzyme activities
File: Plant_data.csv
Variables
- Treatment: Different types of litter and the presence or absence of ectomycorrhizal fungi
- Plant dry weight (g): Plant dry weight
- N (%): Plant N content
File: hyphal_effect_on_pant_data.csv
Variables
- Treatment: Different types of litter and the sampling time
- Hyphal effect on dry weight: Hyphal effect on plant dry weight
- Hyphal effect on N: Hyphal effect on plant N content
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
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Data was derived from the following sources:
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