凉山州龙肘山锈红杜鹃与薄叶马银花根部真菌分子检测

【目的】为检验直接分子检测法用于揭示杜鹃花属(Rhododendron)植物根部真菌(Root-associated fungi,RAF)组成的有效性。【方法】采用不依赖于培养的分子检测技术直接从锈红杜鹃(R.bureavii)与薄叶马银花(R.leptothrium)的发根(Hair root)提取DNA,用真菌特异性引物扩增r DNA-ITS区、经克隆后测序,对获得的ITS序列进行分析;通过收集NCBI中与本研究的RAF相似性97%以上的所有序列对应的真菌来源(土壤或根系的身份)数据,分析真菌的生态学特性,并用FUNGuild软件提供的方法划分真菌的生态类型。【结果】从两种杜鹃花根部共检测到15种真菌,其中担子菌门(Basdiomycota)真菌3种,子囊菌门(Ascomycota)真菌12种。柔膜菌目(Helotiales)真菌在两种杜鹃花RAF群落中占据优势,并且在两种杜鹃花根系中均检测到该类真菌。此外,两种杜鹃花根部有多种生态类型的RAF共存,包括曾被频繁报道的杜鹃花类菌根菌Oidiodendron sp.和Rhizoscyphus sp.、内生真菌Phialocephala fortinii、共生一致病过渡型真菌Pezoloma ericae、外生菌根共生菌Meliniomyces sp.,以及腐生型真菌Myceana sp.、Lachnum virgineum、Herpotrichia sp.。【结论】直接分子检测法从两种杜鹃花属植物根部检测到的真菌谱系多样性较高、生态类型复杂,这一方法能较为全面地反映杜鹃花属植物RAF多样性。     

Community composition of root‐associated fungi in a Quercus‐dominated temperate forest: “codominance” of mycorrhizal and root‐endophytic fungi

In terrestrial ecosystems, plant roots are colonized by various clades of mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi. Focused on the root systems of an oak‐dominated temperate forest in Japan, we used 454 pyrosequencing to explore how phylogenetically diverse fungi constitute an ecological community of multiple ecotypes. In total, 345 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of fungi were found from 159 terminal‐root samples from 12 plant species occurring in the forest. Due to the dominance of an oak species (Quercus serrata), diverse ectomycorrhizal clades such as Russula, Lactarius, Cortinarius, Tomentella, Amanita, Boletus, and Cenococcum were observed. Unexpectedly, the root‐associated fungal community was dominated by root‐endophytic ascomycetes in Helotiales, Chaetothyriales, and Rhytismatales. Overall, 55.3% of root samples were colonized by both the commonly observed ascomycetes and ectomycorrhizal fungi; 75.0% of the root samples of the dominant Q. serrata were so cocolonized. Overall, this study revealed that root‐associated fungal communities of oak‐dominated temperate forests were dominated not only by ectomycorrhizal fungi but also by diverse root endophytes and that potential ecological interactions between the two ecotypes may be important to understand the complex assembly processes of belowground fungal communities.     

Surprising spectra of root-associated fungi in submerged aquatic plants

Similarly to plants from terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic species harbour wide spectra of root-associated fungi (RAF). However, comparably less is known about fungal diversity in submerged roots. We assessed the incidence and diversity of RAF in submerged aquatic plants using microscopy, culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. We studied RAF of five submerged isoetid species collected in four oligotrophic freshwater lakes in Norway. Levels of dark septate endophytes (DSE) colonization differed among the lakes and were positively related to the organic matter content and negatively related to pH. In total, we identified 41 fungal OTUs using culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques, belonging to Mucoromycotina, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Ascomycota as well as Basidiomycota. Sequences corresponding to aquatic hyphomycetes (e.g. Nectria lugdunensis, Tetracladium furcatum and Varicosporium elodeae) were obtained. Eight arbuscular mycorrhizal taxa belonging to the orders Archaeosporales, Diversisporales and Glomerales were also detected. However, the vast majority of the fungal species detected (e.g. Ceratobasidium sp., Cryptosporiopsis rhizophila, Leptodontidium orchidicola, and Tuber sp.) have previously been known only from roots of terrestrial plants. The abundance and phylogenetic distribution of mycorrhizal as well as nonmycorrhizal fungi in the roots of submerged plants have reshaped our views on the fungal diversity in aquatic environment.     

Sharing of Diverse Mycorrhizal and Root-Endophytic Fungi among Plant Species in an Oak-Dominated Cool–Temperate Forest

Most terrestrial plants interact with diverse clades of mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi in their roots. Through belowground plant–fungal interactions, dominant plants can benefit by interacting with host-specific mutualistic fungi and proliferate in a community based on positive plant–mutualistic fungal feedback. On the other hand, subordinate plant species may persist in the community by sharing other sets (functional groups) of fungal symbionts with each other. Therefore, revealing how diverse clades of root-associated fungi are differentially hosted by dominant and subordinate plant species is essential for understanding plant community structure and dynamics. Based on 454-pyrosequencing, we determined the community composition of root-associated fungi on 36 co-occurring plant species in an oak-dominated forest in northern Japan and statistically evaluated the host preference phenotypes of diverse mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi. An analysis of 278 fungal taxa indicated that an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete fungus in the genus Lactarius and a possibly endophytic ascomycete fungus in the order Helotiales significantly favored the dominant oak (Quercus) species. In contrast, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were generally shared among subordinate plant species. Although fungi with host preferences contributed to the compartmentalization of belowground plant–fungal associations, diverse clades of ectomycorrhizal fungi and possible root endophytes were associated not only with the dominant Quercus but also with the remaining plant species. Our findings suggest that dominant-ectomycorrhizal and subordinate plant species can host different subsets of root-associated fungi, and diverse clades of generalist fungi can counterbalance the compartmentalization of plant–fungal associations. Such insights into the overall structure of belowground plant–fungal associations will help us understand the mechanisms that facilitate the coexistence of plant species in natural communities.     

Estimating biodiversity of fungi in activated sludge communities using culture-independent methods

Fungal diversity of communities in several activated sludge plants treating different influent wastes was determined by comparative sequence analyses of their 18S rRNA genes. Methods for DNA extraction and choice of primers for PCR amplification were both optimised using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile patterns. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the levels of fungal biodiversity in some communities, like those treating paper pulp wastes, were low, and most of the fungi detected in all communities examined were novel uncultured representatives of the major fungal subdivisions, in particular, the newly described clade Cryptomycota. The fungal populations in activated sludge revealed by these culture-independent methods were markedly different to those based on culture-dependent data. Members of the genera Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Mucor, which have been commonly identified in mixed liquor, were not identified in any of these plant communities. Non-fungal eukaryotic 18S rRNA genes were also amplified with the primer sets used. This is the first report where culture-independent methods have been applied to flocculated activated sludge biomass samples to estimate fungal community composition and, as expected, the data obtained gave a markedly different view of their population biodiversity compared to that based on culture-dependent methods.     

Fungal endophytic communities in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) respond to crop management

We studied the distribution of fungal endophytes of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) plants in a subalpine area of northern Italy, where viticulture is of high economic relevance. We adopted both cultivation-based and cultivation-independent approaches to address how various anthropic and nonanthropic factors shape microbial communities. Grapevine stems were harvested from several locations considering organic and integrated pest management (IPM) and from the cultivars Merlot and Chardonnay. Cultivable fungi were isolated and identified by internal-transcribed-spacer sequence analysis, using a novel colony-PCR method, to amplify DNA from fungal specimens. The composition of fungal communities was assessed using a cultivation-independent approach, automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA). Multivariate statistical analysis of both culture-dependent and culture-independent data sets was convergent and indicated that fungal endophytic communities in grapevines from organically managed farms were different from those from farms utilizing IPM. Fungal communities in plants of cv. Merlot and cv. Chardonnay overlapped when analyzed using culture-dependent approaches but could be partially resolved using ARISA fingerprinting.     

Identical genotypes of an ericoid mycorrhiza-forming fungus occur in roots of Epacris pulchella (Ericaceae) and Leptospermum polygalifolium (Myrtaceae) in an Australian sclerophyll forest

Assemblages of fungi associated with roots of cooccurring Epacris pulchella ( Ericaceae ) and Leptospermum polygalifolium ( Myrtaceae ) seedlings at a sclerophyll forest site in New South Wales, Australia, were investigated by direct DNA extraction and analysis of rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) products by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses. While ordination of the DGGE data suggested that the assemblages did not differ significantly between the two plant taxa, T-RFLP data provided marginal statistical support for the presence of different assemblages. Fungi isolated from roots of both plants were identified by ITS sequence comparisons largely as ascomycetes, several of which had close sequence identity to Helotiales ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi. One isolate morphotype from E. pulchella had close sequence similarity to ectomycorrhizal fungi in the Cenococcum geophilum complex, and neighbour-joining analysis grouped this strongly with other Australian C. geophilum- like sequences. Distribution of genotypes of an ERM Helotiales ascomycete in root systems of the two plant taxa was also investigated using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-PCR. Nineteen ISSR genotypes were identified, two of which were present in roots of both plant taxa. The results are discussed in the context of potential mycelial connections between Ericaceae and non- Ericaceae plants.     

Fungi associated with hair roots of Rhododendron lochiae (Ericaceae) in an Australian tropical cloud forest revealed by culturing and culture-independent molecular methods

The culturable fungal assemblage associated with hair roots of Rhododendron lochiae (Ericaceae) from a tropical cloud forest in Queensland, Australia was 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. DNA was further extracted directly from hair roots and partial fungal ITS products compared with those from the cultured isolate assemblage using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A range of ericoid mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal fungi was identified using both approaches, with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi found to be taxonomically similar to those associated with Ericaceae in temperate habitats worldwide. Both approaches identified several unique fungi and, although most of the abundant RFLP types identified in the cultured fungal assemblage were also present in DGGE profiles of DNA extracted directly from roots, one the most commonly isolated RFLP types, a putative Xylariaceae taxon, was absent. The data suggest that a combination of culturing and culture-independent approaches may be more efficacious than either method individually.     

Analysis of ribosomal RNA indicates seasonal fungal community dynamics in Andropogon gerardii roots

Use of the reverse-transcribed small subunit of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was tested for exploring seasonal dynamics of fungal communities associated with the roots of the dominant tallgrass prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii. Ribosomal RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed, and PCR-amplified in four sampling events in May, July, September, and November. Analyses of cloned PCR amplicons indicated that the A. gerardii rhizospheres host phylogenetically diverse fungal communities and that these communities are seasonally dynamic. Operational taxonomic units with Basic Local Alignment Search Tool affinities within the order Helotiales were dominant in the rhizosphere in May. These putative saprobes were largely replaced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with likely affinities within Glomerales suggesting that the fungal communities are not only compositionally but also functionally dynamic. These data suggest replacement of functional guilds comprised of saprobic fungi by mutualistic fungi in the course of a growing season.     

Strong host preference of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a Tasmanian wet sclerophyll forest as revealed by DNA barcoding and taxon-specific primers

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is a widespread plant nutrition strategy in Australia, especially in semiarid regions. This study aims to determine the diversity, community structure and host preference of ECM fungi in a Tasmanian wet sclerophyll forest. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were identified based on anatomotyping and rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-large subunit (LSU) sequence analysis using taxon-specific primers. Host tree roots were identified based on root morphology and length differences of the chloroplast trnL region. A total of 123 species of ECM fungi were recovered from root tips of Eucalyptus regnans (Myrtaceae), Pomaderris apetala (Rhamnaceae) and Nothofagus cunninghamii (Nothofagaceae). The frequency of two thirds of the most common ECM fungi from several lineages was significantly influenced by host species. The lineages of Cortinarius, Tomentella-Thelephora, Russula-Lactarius, Clavulina, Descolea and Laccaria prevailed in the total community and their species richness and relative abundance did not differ by host species. This study demonstrates that strongly host-preferring, though not directly specific, ECM fungi may dominate the below-ground community. Apart from the richness of Descolea, Tulasnella and Helotiales and the lack of Suillus-Rhizopogon and Amphinema-Tylospora, the ECM fungal diversity and phylogenetic community structure is similar to that in the Holarctic realm.     

A diverse fungal community associated with Pseudorchis albida (Orchidaceae) roots

In addition to orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OrMF), the roots of orchids harbour plant fungal endophytes termed root-associated fungi (RAF). In the present study, the endangered photosynthetic orchid Pseudorchis albida was screened for OrMF and RAF using culture-dependent (isolations from root sections and pelotons) and culture-independent (cloning from root sections) techniques. The efficiency of the different approaches for detecting the fungi and the effect of the sampling season (summer or autumn) were evaluated. In total, 66 distinct OTUs of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal fungi were found, which, to our knowledge, is the highest diversity of RAF that has yet been detected in a single orchid species. The OrMF community was dominated by Tulasnella species, which were mainly detected by isolation from pelotons or cloning from root sections. The roots and tubers showed higher mycorrhizal colonization in summer, corroborating the frequent reports of Tulasnella from pelotons in this season. In contrast, two helotialean fungi, Varicosporium elodeae and Leohumicola sp., the latter of which was repeatedly isolated from pelotons, were significantly more abundant in the autumn.     

Molecular analysis of fungal diversity associated with three bryophyte species in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica

The fungal communities associated with three bryophytes species (the liverwort Barbilophozia hatcheri, the mosses Chorisodontium aciphyllum and Sanionia uncinata) in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica, were studied using clone library analysis. Fungal communities showed low diversity; the 680 clones belonged to 93 OTUs. Of these, 78 belonged to the phylum Ascomycota, 13 to the phylum Basidiomycota, 1 to the phylum Zygomycota, and 1 to an unknown phylum. Among the OTUs, the most common orders in the Ascomycota were Helotiales (42 OTUs) and Chaetothyriales (14 OTUs) and the most common orders in the Basidiomycota were Sebacinales (3 OTUs) and Platygloeales (3 OTUs). Most OTUs clustered within clades that contained phylotypes identified from samples in Antarctic or Arctic ecosystems or from bryophytes in other ecosystems. In addition, we found that host-related factor may shape the fungal communities associated with bryophytes in this region. This is the first systematic study of the fungal community in Antarctic bryophytes to be performed using culture-independent method and the results may improve understanding of the endophytic fungal evolution and ecology in the Antarctic ecosystem.     

Only a Few Fungal Species Dominate Highly Diverse Mycofloras Associated with the Common Reed

Plants are naturally colonized by many fungal species that produce effects ranging from beneficial to pathogenic. However, how many of these fungi are linked with a single host plant has not been determined. Furthermore, the composition of plant-associated fungal communities has not been rigorously determined. We investigated these essential issues by employing the perennial wetland reed Phragmites australis as a model. DNA extracted from roots, rhizomes, stems, and leaves was used for amplification and cloning of internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene fragments originating from reed-associated fungi. A total of 1,991 clones from 15 clone libraries were differentiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses into 345 operational taxonomical units (OTUs). Nonparametric estimators for total richness (Chao1 and ACE) and also a parametric log normal model predicted a total of about 750 OTUs if the libraries were infinite. Sixty-two percent of the OTUs sequenced were novel at a threshold of 3%. Several of these OTUs represented undocumented fungal species, which also included higher taxonomic levels. In spite of the high diversity of the OTUs, the mycofloras of vegetative organs were dominated by just a few typical fungi, which suggested that competition and niche differentiation influence the composition of plant-associated fungal communities. This suggestion was independently supported by the results of nested PCR assays specifically monitoring two OTUs over 3 years, which revealed significant preferences for host habitat and host organ.     

Only a few fungal species dominate highly diverse mycofloras associated with the common reed

Plants are naturally colonized by many fungal species that produce effects ranging from beneficial to pathogenic. However, how many of these fungi are linked with a single host plant has not been determined. Furthermore, the composition of plant-associated fungal communities has not been rigorously determined. We investigated these essential issues by employing the perennial wetland reed Phragmites australis as a model. DNA extracted from roots, rhizomes, stems, and leaves was used for amplification and cloning of internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene fragments originating from reed-associated fungi. A total of 1,991 clones from 15 clone libraries were differentiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses into 345 operational taxonomical units (OTUs). Nonparametric estimators for total richness (Chao1 and ACE) and also a parametric log normal model predicted a total of about 750 OTUs if the libraries were infinite. Sixty-two percent of the OTUs sequenced were novel at a threshold of 3%. Several of these OTUs represented undocumented fungal species, which also included higher taxonomic levels. In spite of the high diversity of the OTUs, the mycofloras of vegetative organs were dominated by just a few typical fungi, which suggested that competition and niche differentiation influence the composition of plant-associated fungal communities. This suggestion was independently supported by the results of nested PCR assays specifically monitoring two OTUs over 3 years, which revealed significant preferences for host habitat and host organ.     

Diversity and host preference of fungi co-inhabiting Cenococcum mycorrhizae

Diverse fungal assemblages colonize the fine feeder roots of woody plants, including mycorrhizal fungi, fungal root endophytes and soil saprotrophs. The fungi co-inhabiting Cenococcum geophilum ectomycorrhizae (ECM) of Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera and Picea glauca were studied at two boreal forest sites in Eastern Canada by direct PCR of ITS rDNA. 50 non-Cenococcum fungal sequence types were detected, including several potentially mycorrhizal species as well as fungal root endophytes. Non-melanized ascomycetes dominated, in contrast to the dark septate endophytes (DSE) reported in most culture dependent studies. The results demonstrate significant differences in root associated fungal assemblages among the host species studied. Fungal diversity was also host dependent, with P. glauca roots supporting a more diverse community than A. balsamea. Differences in root associated fungal communities may well influence ecological interactions among host plant species.     

Fungi associated with aeroponic roots in caves and mines of New Brunswick

We provide the first analysis of the fungi associated with a very special habitat, the aeroponic roots found in caves and mines in New Brunswick, Canada. Fungal diversity was assessed by Illumina sequencing using three complementary primer sets targeting ribosomal RNA genes, and roots were identified using the non-coding trnH-psbA spacer. Early colonizing ectomycorrhizal fungi such as Agaricales, Helotiales, Pezizales, and Thelephorales were predominant. Saprotrophs, endophytes and plant pathogens were also present, but Glomeromycota (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) were not detected. Fungal root communities were generally most similar within sites. Fungal diversity was inversely correlated with winter dark zone temperatures and distance from the entrance. By using a combination of three primer sets, we detected more fungal taxa than with any one primer set. This study adds to the understanding of these subterranean ecosystems and suggests that future studies investigate factors limiting the presence of late-stage ectomycorrhizal fungi and Glomeromycota.     

How are plant and fungal communities linked to each other in belowground ecosystems? A massively parallel pyrosequencing analysis of the association specificity of root-associated fungi and their host plants

In natural forests, hundreds of fungal species colonize plant roots. The preference or specificity for partners in these symbiotic relationships is a key to understanding how the community structures of root‐associated fungi and their host plants influence each other. In an oak‐dominated forest in Japan, we investigated the root‐associated fungal community based on a pyrosequencing analysis of the roots of 33 plant species. Of the 387 fungal taxa observed, 153 (39.5%) were identified on at least two plant species. Although many mycorrhizal and root‐endophytic fungi are shared between the plant species, the five most common plant species in the community had specificity in their association with fungal taxa. Likewise, fungi displayed remarkable variation in their association specificity for plants even within the same phylogenetic or ecological groups. For example, some fungi in the ectomycorrhizal family Russulaceae were detected almost exclusively on specific oak (Quercus) species, whereas other Russulaceae fungi were found even on “non‐ectomycorrhizal” plants (e.g., Lyonia and Ilex). Putatively endophytic ascomycetes in the orders Helotiales and Chaetothyriales also displayed variation in their association specificity and many of them were shared among plant species as major symbionts. These results suggest that the entire structure of belowground plant–fungal associations is described neither by the random sharing of hosts/symbionts nor by complete compartmentalization by mycorrhizal type. Rather, the colonization of multiple types of mycorrhizal fungi on the same plant species and the prevalence of diverse root‐endophytic fungi may be important features of belowground linkage between plant and fungal communities.     

Elevation,space and host plant species structure Ericaceae root-associated fungal communities in Papua New Guinea

Our study aimed to identify significant predictors (spatial distance, elevation, host plant taxonomy) which shape the structure of endophytic fungal (ENDF) and putative ericoid mycorrhizal (ErMF) communities associated with roots of Ericaceae in Papua New Guinea. Roots of five Ericaceae together with one non-Ericaceae species were sampled at an experimental site and one common Ericaceae species was chosen for sampling along an elevation gradient. ENDF and putative ErMF communities were determined using the 454-sequencing approach. ENDF as well as putative ErMF communities were affected by interacting host plant. While the putative ErMF community was structured by host plants at the genus level, the ENDF community was affected by host plant subfamily level. Composition of ENDF as well as putative ErMF communities were affected by elevation. Non-Ericaceae plant species (Hypericum sp.) harbored similar communities of ENDF as well as putative ErMF as Ericaceae plants. Our study provides a first insight into ErMF and ENDF community ecology of Ericaceae in Papua New Guinea.     

Spatial Distribution of Fungal Communities in an Arable Soil

Fungi are prominent drivers of ecological processes in soils, so that fungal communities across different soil ecosystems have been well investigated. However, for arable soils taxonomically resolved fine-scale studies including vertical itemization of fungal communities are still missing. Here, we combined a cloning/Sanger sequencing approach of the ITS/LSU region as marker for general fungi and of the partial SSU region for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to characterize the microbiome in different maize soil habitats. Four compartments were analyzed over two annual cycles 2009 and 2010: a) ploughed soil in 0–10 cm, b) rooted soil in 40–50 cm, c) root-free soil in 60–70 cm soil depth and d) maize roots. Ascomycota was the most dominant phylum across all compartments. Fungal communities including yeasts and AMF differed strongly between compartments. Inter alia, Tetracladium, the overall largest MOTU (molecular operational taxonomic unit), occurred in all compartments, whereas Trichosporon dominated all soil compartments. Sequences belonging to unclassified Helotiales were forming the most abundant MOTUs exclusively present in roots. This study gives new insights on spatial distribution of fungi and helps to link fungal communities to specific ecological properties such as varying resources, which characterize particular niches of the heterogeneous soil environment.     

Diversity of fungi in hair roots of Ericaceae varies along a vegetation gradient

Ericaceous dwarf shrubs including Calluna vulgaris and Vaccinium spp. occur both in open heathland communities and in forest ecosystems as understory vegetation. Ericaceous shrubs were once thought to form ericoid mycorrhizal associations with a relatively narrow range of ascomycetous fungi closely related to, and including, Rhizoscyphus ericae. However, perceptions have recently changed since the realization that a broader range of ascomycete fungi, and in some cases basidiomycete fungi, can also form associations with the roots of ericaceous plants. We used a combination of molecular approaches, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, cloning and sequencing, to investigate the diversity of fungi associated with C. vulgaris roots collected across a heathland/native Scots pine forest vegetation gradient. We also determined differences in fungal community composition between roots of co-occurring C. vulgaris and Vaccinium myrtillus in the forest understory. Collectively, the data show that a large diversity of potentially ericoid mycorrhizal fungal taxa associate with roots of C. vulgaris and V. myrtillus, and that ascomycetes were about 2.5 times more frequent than basidiomycetes. The assemblages of fungi associated with C. vulgaris and V. myrtillus were different. In addition, the community of fungi associated with C. vulgaris hair roots was different for samples collected from the forest, open heathland and a transition zone between the two. This separation was partly, but not entirely, due to the occurrence of typical ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes associated with the hair roots of C. vulgaris in the forest understory. These data demonstrate that forest understory ericaceous shrubs associate with a diverse range of ascomycete and basidiomycete taxa, including typical ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes.