Lack of fungi in Northland pine forest could be connected to kauri dieback

The Four Sisters Walk in the Waipoua Forest has been closed after the discovery of Kauri Dieback. Photo / file.

A new study suggests kauri dieback in Northland might be connected to the lack of protective fungi in plantation pine forest soil.

The study, by Bio-Protection Research Centre PhD candidate Alexa Byers and others, looked at the differences in the bacteria and fungi living in the soil of kauri forest and surrounding pine plantations in the Waipoua area of Northland.

Now the experts need to understand what part, if any, this plays in the spread of kauri dieback, before they can determine if the information can be used to help fight the spread of the disease.

Published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology, the study found soil in the pine forests neighbouring kauri forests lacked several species of fungi and bacteria that protect plants, promote growth and improve their health (for example, Trichoderma and Pseudomonas).

"The loss of core microbiota from native soil microbial communities … surrounding remnant kauri fragments could be altering the forest's ability to respond to pathogen invasion," Byers wrote in the study.

"Understanding the ecological impacts of these changes to the soil microbial communities surrounding remaining kauri fragments is important to protect the long-term health and functioning of these fragments."

She also found some non-native fungi were now present in kauri forest soil.

"The differences in soil microbial diversity between forest systems could potentially result in the exposure of kauri fragments to introduced microbial communities which now have kauri within their range."

The introduction of invasive species into native ecosystems through non-native trees was a recognised driver of disease in forests, Byers wrote.

"This risk is particularly high for Phytophthora species, with the plant nursery trade being identified as a vector for introduction and dispersal into new ecosystems globally."
Kauri dieback is caused by Phytophthora agathidicida.

Kauri dieback shoe-cleaning stations have been set up across Northland to prevent the spread of Kauri Dieback, including this one in Waipoua Forest. Photo / file

Dr Amanda Black, who is one of Byers' supervisors and a co-author of the study, said the results showed more research was needed into the relationship between fragmented kauri forests and the pine and pasture ecosystems surrounding them.

"We have just 7500 ha of original kauri forest left, and it exists as fragments, surrounded by 60,000 ha of plantation forests and regenerating kauri forest," Black said.

"We need to understand what part this plays in the spread of kauri dieback."