Ericaceae root associated fungi revealed by culturing and culture-independent molecular methods

Abstract

Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi form mycorrhizal associations with Ericaceae plants and are regarded as essential to the ecological fitness of the plants in extremely nutrition-poor soils world-wide. The culturable fungible assemblages associated with hair roots of Epacris pulchella and Rhododendron lochiae (Ericaceae) from different forest habitats in eastern Australia were investigated using rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequence analysis, and the abilities of the fungi to form ericoid mycorrhizas were tested. The functional significance of members of the H. ericae complex, Sebacinaceae and the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes are discussed particularly in regard to the possibility of symbiont sharing between Ericaceae and ectomycorrhizal hosts.

Date of Award	2006
Original language	English