Molecular investigation of sterile root-associated fungi from Epacris microphyllar.br. (Ericaceae) and other epacrids at alpine, subalpine and coastal heathland sites

Sterile fungi were isolated from the roots of five epacrid species in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia: Epacris microphylla (alpine feldmark, alpine bog, subalpine and coastal sites), E. paludosa, E. petrophila, Leucopogon montanus and Richea continentis (alpine bog). Fifty-two isolates were used in sequencing studies of the ITS 1, 5.8s and ITS2 regions of nuclear rDNA using the primers ITS 1 and ITS4. All sequences had closest GenBank matches (78.8-99.6%) with a diverse group of ascomycetes. Forty-two per cent had high sequence similarity (>93%) with either other Australian epacrid isolates or ericoid fungi from northern hemisphere Ericaceae, suggesting a global distribution for this group of fungi. Neighbour-joining analysis of the ITS sequences indicated that, although none of the isolates were closely related to H. ericae sensu stricto, several may be related to H. ericae aggregate isolates.