Assemblages of ericoid mycorrhizal and other root‐associated fungi from <i>Epacris pulchella</i> (Ericaceae) as determined by culturing and direct DNA extraction from roots

DOI Web Site Web Site 2 Citations

Search this article

Description

<jats:title>Summary</jats:title><jats:p>Ericoid mycorrhizal fungal endophytes form mycorrhizal associations with Ericaceae plant taxa and are regarded as essential to the ecological fitness of the plants in extremely nutrient‐poor soils worldwide. We isolated fungi from roots of <jats:italic>Epacris pulchella</jats:italic> (Ericaceae) in a south‐eastern Australian sclerophyll forest and compared rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequences for the cultured isolate assemblage with fungi identified in DNA extracted directly from the same root systems by cloning or denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The most abundant RFLP types in the cultured isolate assemblage were identified as putative ericoid mycorrhizal ascomycete endophytes, and these also represented the most abundant RFLP types in the cloned assemblage and the most intense bands in DGGE profiles. Each method identified unique taxa, notably putative basidiomycetes in the DNA extracted directly from <jats:italic>E. pulchella</jats:italic> roots. However, the relative abundance of these was low.</jats:p>

Journal

Citations (2)*help

See more

Report a problem

Back to top