Morphological Variations in Developing Ectomycorrhizae of Dryas integrifolia and Five Fungal Species

Authors

L. H. Melville, University of Guelph
H. B. Massicotte, University of Guelph
R. L. Peterson, University of Guelph

Abstract

A comparative study of ectomycorrhiza formation between the host species Dryas integrifolia and four fungal species belonging to the Basidiomycotina ( Laccaria bicolor, L. laccata, Hebeloma cylindrosporum, Paxillus involutus) and one species in the Ascomycotina (Cenococcum geophilum) showed that patterns in ectomycorrhizal development were distinctive enough to characterize each fungal symbiont. Several aspects of hyphal growth on the plant root during colonization were studied in order to demonstrate the usefulness of SEM in observing the ontogeny of ectomycorrhizae. Each fungal species had a different rate of colonization, and varying root and root hair interactions. As a consequence mantle morphology and the overall appearance of mature ectomycorrhizal apices were also characteristic for each fungal species. Results indicate that the mycobiont plays a major role in determining the morphology of mature ectomycorrizae.

Recommended Citation

Melville, L. H.; Massicotte, H. B.; and Peterson, R. L. (1987) "Morphological Variations in Developing Ectomycorrhizae of Dryas integrifolia and Five Fungal Species," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 1: No. 3, Article 59.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol1/iss3/59