Assessment of Mycorrhizal Associations in Picea smithiana Through Sporocarp Diversity and Morpho‐Anatomical and Fungal Metabarcoding Analyses of Roots

Picea smithiana , an important Himalayan conifer, is facing population decline due to excessive logging and poor natural regeneration. The species depends on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that play a crucial role in its growth, nutrient uptake, and overall survival. In the present study, morphoanatomical and molecular approaches were used to characterize the ECM fungal community associated with P. smithiana . Sporocarps were identified, mycorrhizal roots were examined through morphotyping, and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS)‐based amplicon sequencing was conducted using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Morphotyping revealed 14 ECM morphotypes, sporocarp sampling identified 28 fungal species, and metabarcoding detected 16 ECM fungal species in the roots. Overall, ECM fungi represented 79.1% of the total fungal community, with Tuber (70.71%) and Russula (24.95%) emerging as dominant taxa. These results provide insights into the ECM fungal diversity of P. smithiana and emphasize the potential of dominant symbionts for seedling inoculation, offering a promising strategy for the conservation and restoration of the declining Himalayan conifer.