Аннотация:The symbiosis between vascular plants and mycorrhizal fungi is paramount for
carbon and nutrient cycling in most of the world’s ecosystems. Most vascular plant species are
associated with mycorrhizal fungal partners, and the association is essential for the carbon and
nutrition economies of both partners. However, despite its clear importance, data on this
symbiosis are lacking: for most vascular plant species, mycorrhizal type is unknown. Very
rarely is there data on the levels of mycorrhizal infection intensity in multiple habitats.
We translated and digitized a huge data set on vascular plant mycorrhizal intensity
throughout the former Soviet Union, previously available only as a hard copy appendix of the
doctoral thesis of Ivan A. Selivanov published in Russian in 1976 and not accessible to the
international research community. We updated the taxonomic plant nomenclature to the
International Plant Name Index and adjusted mycorrhizal and ecological terminology
according to the modern international literature.
The database contains 7445 records on mycorrhizal infection type and intensity of 2970
plant species from 155 families, in 154 sites, situated across the former Soviet Union (mostly
on the territory of the current Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan), comprising together
extensive geological, topographic, and climatic gradients. The data set includes percentage
infection for each species–site combination for arbuscular, ericoid, arbutoid, endomycorrhizal,
dark septate, orchid- and ecto-mycorrhizal fungi. Each record has a detailed
description of geography. For many records, soils and host plant community are described.
Most of the sites are natural; 10 sites are situated in botanical gardens. For 1291 species the
intensity of mycorrhizal infection is quantified in multiple plant communities (2–57). The
remaining species are described at single sites.
Selivanov developed his own methods for quantifying mycorrhizal infection intensity. These
methods are comparable, but not identical to, the methodology commonly used today. Based on
our own sampling of 99 plant species collected in two distant sites (Caucasus [Russia] and
Abisko [Sweden]), we provide a simple equation for data conversion between the two methods.
The availability of this database will help to provide answers to important questions
concerning biogeochemical cycling, climate change impacts, and co-evolution of plants and
fungi.