VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE IN HAWAIIAN ERICALES

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) are reported for the first time in four species of Hawaiian Ericales, Vaccinium calycinum, V. dentatum, and V. reticulatum of the Ericaceae and Styphelia tameiameiae of the Epacridaceae. The coarse roots (> 1.5 mm diam) of many specimens were densely colonized by VAM fungi, with up to 90% of the length of roots containing arbuscules, vesicles, coils, and internal hyphae. Spores of an undescribed Glomus sp. were associated with two species of Vaccinium. The hair roots of all species bore the ericoid mycorrhizae typical of certain families of this order. The high frequency of VAM in Hawaiian populations of Ericales suggests that ancestral Ericales possessed the capacity to form both VA and ericoid mycorrhizae. An evolutionary sequence of mycorrhizal dependency in the Ericales is presented.     

MYCORRHIZAE IN HAWAIIAN PTERIDOPHYTES: OCCURRENCE AND EVOLUTIONARY SIGNIFICANCE

Forty-five percent of the Hawaiian pteridophyte flora were examined for mycorrhizae. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae were present in 66 of the 89 species examined. Nonmycotrophy was significantly higher in Hawaiian pteridophytes than in non-Hawaiian pteridophytes. The highest mycorrhizal colonization occurred in the leptosporangiate families Dicksoniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, and Lindsaeaceae. Mycotrophy was lower in the eusporangiate families. Substrate strongly influenced the presence of mycotrophy. Mycorrhizae were present in 83% of terricolous species, in 86% of epilithic species, in 55% of epiphytic species, and absent from aquatic species. A phylogram of pteridophyte families is constructed incorporating the intensity of mycorrhizal colonization as one criterion for classification.     

香港次生林下植物菌根的调查

本文报道了香港６４种野生植物根系天然感染菌根菌的状况：９８．４％的植物都不同程度地感染上了菌根菌,９８．１％的根样发现受内生菌根（ＶＡＭ）的感染,其中小叶青冈（Ｑｕｅｒｃｕｓｍｙｒｓｉｎａｅｆｏｌｉａ）同时受外生菌根（ＥＣＭ）和内生菌根的感染。该研究揭示了香港次生林植物在自然条件下受菌根菌感染的普遍性,为进一步探讨华南地区菌根与退化地区植物群落演替的关系提供了重要的本底资料。     

VA MYCORRHIZAE IN STRAND VEGETATION OF HAWAII: EVIDENCE FOR LONG-DISTANCE CODISPERSAL OF PLANTS AND FUNGI

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) were a nearly constant component of the coastal strand of the Hawaiian Islands, occurring in beach sand, driftline debris, in roots of 23 of 31 species of vascular plants examined, and in association with rhizomes of two native species, Sporobolus virginicus and Jacquemontia sandwicensis. Mycorrhizae were most frequent and intensity of VAM development was greatest in endemic plants, less in indigenous species, and least in alien species. Spores of VAMF were produced in abundance between the rhizome and the leaf sheaths of Sporobolus. Roots of two strand species, including roots of Sporobolus that were immersed in seawater for 7 days, functioned as inocula of VAMF in pot-culture studies. The close association between propagules of VAMF and vegetative fragments of indigenous plants found in the present study suggests a mechanism of codispersal that appears to ensure the maintenance of the symbiosis in nutrient-deficient sites where it is most beneficial. The codispersal of fungus and plant may explain the high frequency of mycotrophy in strand species in the tropical Pacific.     

THE MYCORRHIZAE OF PIONEER SPECIES IN DISTURBED ECOSYSTEMS IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Study plots with ten types of disturbances were established in a Solidago-Aster community in western Pennsylvania. One year after disturbance, 93% of all species had vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) and accounted for 92% of all plant cover. After 3 yr, 96% of the species had VAM and 96% canopy coverage. An adjacent 10-yr Solidago-Aster community had 100% VAM species. The VAM annuals, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Setaria glauca, were major first year dominants while VAM perennials, Agropyron repens, Solidago canadensis, and Aster ericoides, dominated at 3 yr. The mean percent mycorrhizae of all dominants at 1 yr was 39% and 34% at 3 yr. Four disturbed sites had 100% VAM colonization after 1 yr and six sites after 3 yr. Severe physical disturbances (topsoil removed and topsoil-subsoil removed) resulted in complete colonization by VAM species and mean mycorrhizal infections of more than 75%. The plowed-disked-prometone and plowed-disked-vapam disturbances resulted in low levels of mycorrhizae after 3 yr. The plowed-disked-atrazine plot showed an initial severe decrease in percentage of mycorrhizae, but doubled its infection rate by 3 yr. Three non-mycorrhizal species (Chenopodium album, Rumex acetosella, and Polygonuspersicaria) were observed during the 3-yr period. C. album was the major dominant after 1 yr in the plowed-disked-fertilized site and R. acetosella a dominant in the plowed-disked-prometone plot.     

MYCORRHIZAE IN RECENT VOLCANIC SUBSTRATES IN HAWAII

Plants colonizing 8- and 14-year-old lava flows, a 28-year-old cinder fall, a 137-year-old volcanic soil, and a geothermic volcanic soil were sampled for mycorrhizae. Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae were present in all sites, and the frequency of occurrence and intensity of root colonization increased with increasing age of the site. In the youngest site, 57% of the sampled species were mycorrhizal, and this increased to 84% in the cinder fall and 100% in the old soil. Orchid and ericoid mycorrhizae also were present in some sites. Native Hawaiian species tended to more frequently form mycorrhizae and have more intense mycorrhizal infection than did alien species. Plant succession on the Hawaiian volcanic sites differed somewhat from a predictive model in the lack of dominance by nonmycotrophic species in the early seral stages. The difference apparently results from 1) the arrival of mycorrhizal fungi soon after the volcanic substrates cool and 2) the paucity of nonmycotrophic species available to invade very recent volcanic sites.     

Host genotype and the formation and function of VA mycorrhizae

VA mycorrhizae, the most ancient type of mycorrhizal symbiosis, are present in the most phytogenetically advanced groups. Few plants have evolved mechanisms to completely prevent infection by VAM fungi. Yet, plant species that are less dependent on VA mycorrhizae for nutrient acquisition (e.g., grasses) generally have less root colonization in the field than more dependent species (e.g., Citrus). Among closely related Citrus genotypes, there is a greater tendency for less dependent species to limit the rate but not the extent of colonization, even in high-P soils. We hypothesize that colonization represents a significant carbon cost that may be regulated by the host genotype. Carbon expenditure on the fungus at high P may result in mycorrhizal-induced growth depression. The potential value of breeding plants for greater susceptibility to colonization will depend on the cost/benefit of VA mycorrhizae for the specific crop, soil and environmental conditions. Although the genetics and physiology of host control over VAM colonization are barely known, recently discovered mycorrhizal colonization mutants (myc^-) of pea offer great promise for the study of host-fungus compatibility. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-02765. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-02765.     

Diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Wolbachia in Drosophila and other native Hawaiian insects

Wolbachia is a genus of parasitic alphaproteobacteria found in arthropods and nematodes, and represents on of the most common, widespread endosymbionts known. Wolbachia affects a variety of reproductive functions in its host (e.g., male killing, cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis), which have the potential to dramatically impact host evolution and species formation. Here, we present the first broad-scale study to screen natural populations of native Hawaiian insects for Wolbachia, focusing on the endemic Diptera. Results indicate that Wolbachia infects native Hawaiian taxa, with alleles spanning phylogenetic supergroups, A and B. The overall frequency of Wolbachia incidene in Hawaiian insects was 14%. The incidence of infection in native Hawaiian Diptera was 11% for individuals and 12% for all species screened. Wolbachia was not detected in two large, widespread Hawaiian dipteran families—Dolichopodidae (44 spp screened) and Limoniidae (12 spp screened). Incidence of infection within endemic Hawaiian lineages that carry Wolbachia was 18% in Drosophilidae species, 25% in Caliphoridae species, > 90% in Nesophrosyne species, 20% in Drosophila dasycnemia and 100% in Nesophrosyne craterigena. Twenty unique alleles were recovered in this study, of which 18 are newly recorded. Screening of endemic populations of D. dasycnemia across Hawaii Island revealed 4 unique alleles. Phylogenetic relationships and allele diversity provide evidence for horizontal transfer of Wolbachia among Hawaiian arthropod lineages.     

The mycorrhizal status of vascular epiphytes in Bale Mountains National Park,Ethiopia

Roots of 28 species of epiphytic vascular plants were collected on tree trunks and branches at six afromontane forest sites between 1700 and 3300 m above sea level in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Seven of the 28 epiphyte species were colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM). Mycorrhizal colonization only occurred at two of the six sites examined, at 2900 m and 3300 m, but more than one type of VAM endophyte was present in each case. Three facultative epiphytic species were all highly colonized by VAM on the forest floor, whereas roots from epiphytic habitats were weakly colonized. No correlations were found between VAM colonization, fine root diameter and root hair length, but VAM colonization and root hair abundance were negatively correlated. The lack of VAM colonization of potential, epiphytic host species at the majority of the sites examined points to the dispersal of VAM propagules as the factor limiting mycorrhizal colonization of epiphytic habitats. It is suggested that root systems of hemiepiphytic tree species serve as corridors between forest floor and tree trunks through which VAM may spread via hyphal growth.     

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae of epiphytes

This article introduces reports concerning the occurrence of mycorrhizae on epiphytes in Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Malaysia, and Mexico. Association of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with the roots of epiphytes is not well known. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM) do occur in the canopy, but are uncommon except in certain sites and host taxa. Occurrence of VAM on epiphytes may be constrained by mineral nutrient availability and spatial heterogeneity in the canopy. Nevertheless, epiphytes present unique opportunities to study influences of mycorrhizae on vascular plant community composition and on the evolution of mycorrhizal associations.     

Mycorrhizae in Monocotyledonae of Northeast Brazil: subclasses Alismatidae, Arecidae and Zingiberidae

 We studied the mycorrhizal condition of three subclasses (Alismatidae, Arecidae, Zingiberidae) of Liliopsida (Monocotyledonae) occurring in different natural areas of the State of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Twenty-two of 35 specimens (62.8%) were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. No association was found in specimens of five families (Alismataceae, Cannaceae, Cyclanthaceae, Hydrocharitaceae, Limnocharitaceae), but in two other families (Costaceae, Zingiberaceae) all specimens formed mycorrhizae. Four families showed variable mycotrophy (Araceae, Bromeliaceae, Heliconiaceae, Marantaceae). This is the first evaluation of the mycorrhizal condition of 24 Monocotyledonae species from this region, 15 of which were found to form AM. Accepted: 4 July 2000     

Effects of the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus vulnus and the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on the growth of three plum rootstocks

The effects of Pratylenchus vulnus and the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on growth of Myrobalan 605, Marianna 2624 and San Julian 655-2 plum rootstocks were measured under shadehouse conditions in the field for two growing seasons (1990–91). Shoot dry weights were higher in the majority of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) alone inoculated plants after both growing seasons. Root weights of mycorrhizal Myrobalan and Marianna were higher than root weights of the same rootstocks lacking mycorrhizae, inoculated with P. vulnus, and VAM in combination with the nematode. Mycorrhizal Marianna inoculated with the nematode showed a considerably higher final nematode population in relation to non-inoculated VAM treatments. No correlation was found in the number of nematodes per gram of root between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal treatments. P. vulnus adversely affected the mycorrhizal colonization in Marianna, but not in Myrobalan and San Julian. Marianna appears to be more mycorrhizal dependent than the two other rootstocks.     

Mycorrhizal status of some plants of the Araucaria forest and the Atlantic rainforest in Santa Catarina, Brazil

 In Brazil, the Araucaria forest and the Atlantic rainforest are two threatened ecosystems, with 10% or less of their original areas presently existing. To assess the mycorrhizal status in these forests, roots of 29 native species, belonging to 19 families, were collected throughout the year from different regions of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Roots were washed, and then cut in a cryo-microtome to seek ectomycorrhizal colonization. Other roots were stained before being examined for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM). Patterns of colonization were identified and photographed. All plants presented evidence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. No evidence of ectomycorrhizal colonization was found. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization patterns varied from single intracellular aseptate hyphae, coils, and/or appressoria, to vesicles and/or arbuscules. Results confirmed that VAM hosts are predominant in South American forests while ectomycorrhizas are extremely rare even among genera known as ectomycorrhizal in other regions of the humid tropics. Accepted: 27 August 2000     

Practical aspects of mycorrhizal technology in some tropical crops and pastures

Summary Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted on the effect of VA mycorrhiza (VAM) on the growth of cassava, various tropical grass and legume species, as well as beans, coffee and tea. A large number of VAM fungal species were evaluated for effectivity in increasing cassava growth and P uptake in acid low-P soils. The effectivity of VAM species and isolates was highly variable and dependent on soil pH and fertilizer applications, as well as on soil temperature and humidity. Two species,Glomus manihotis andEntrophospora colombiana were found to be most effective for a range of crops and pastures, at low pH and at a wide range of N, P, and K levels. At very low P levels nearly all crops and pasture species were highly mycorrhizal dependent, but at higher soil P levels cassava and several pasture legumes were more dependent than grass species. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased cassava and bean yields in those soils with low or ineffective indigenous mycorrhizal populations. In these soils cassava root yields increased on the average 20–25% by VAM inoculation, both at the experiment station and in farmers’ fields. VAM inoculation of various pasture legumes and grasses, in combination with rock phosphate applications, increased their early growth and establishment. Agronomic practices such as fertilization, crop rotations, intercropping and pesticide applications were found to affect both the total VAM population as well as its species composition. While there is no doubt about the importance of VA mycorrhiza in enhancing P uptake and growth of many tropical crops and pastures grown on low-P soils, much more research is required to elucidate the complicated soil-plant-VAM interactions and to increase yields through improved mycorrhizal efficiency.     

Mycorrhizal status of epiphytes in Malaysian oil palm plantations

Epiphytic plants were collected from four oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia and their mycorrhizal status determined. Conspecific plants with a terrestrial habit (16 species) and rhizosphere soils were also examined for mycorrhizal colonization and glomalean fungi, respectively. Twelve species of glomalean fungi were recovered from the four oil palm plantation soils. Of the 29 epiphytic species in 16 families belonging to the bryophytes, pteridophytes and angiosperms, only four species of angiosperms that were facultative epiphytes and a hemiepiphyte growing within 0.4 m of ground level had vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. Bioassays of organic debris from oil palm trunks did not produce vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas on maize. Six epiphytic species grown in the greenhouse in pots containing oil palm rhizosphere soils rooted and had VAM fungi and thus may be facultative epiphytes. Five other epiphyte species failed to grow in pots and are probably obligate epiphytes. Seven epiphyte species that established themselves in pots failed to form vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas.     

大兴安岭落叶松林丛枝菌根真菌多样性

对大兴安岭落叶松林17个科26种植物丛枝菌根(AM)定居情况和丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)多样性进行了调查。在26种植物根样中形成典型AM定居的有23种,占88.46%。菌根侵染率为0～78.7%,平均为21.69%。在26种植物根样中,4种植物形成重楼型(Par-is-type)AM,占15.38%;10种植物形成疆南星型(Arum-type)AM,占38.46%;9种植物形成中间型(Intermediatetype)AM,占34.62%,3种植物未能形成AM菌根,占11.54%。从23种植物根围土样中分离到50种AMF,分属于5个属,其中无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)24种占48%;球囊霉属(Glomus)19种占38%;内养囊霉属(Entrophospora)5种占10%;原囊霉属(Archaeospora)1种占2%;巨孢囊霉属(Gigaspora)1种占2%。Acaulospora和Glomus2属真菌在大兴安岭落叶松林土壤中占绝对优势;尼氏无梗囊霉(A.nocolsonii)和幼套球囊霉(G.etunicatum)是优势种。植物根围土壤中AMF的孢子密度平均为68.94个.100g-1风干土;AM...     

Field nursery inoculation of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. seedling rootstock with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi

The growth response of Hevea brasiliensis to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi inoculation was assessed in two field nursery sites containing indigenous mycorrhizal fungi (IMF). Seedling rootstocks were inoculated with mixed VAM-fungal species in a factorial combination with phosphorus (P) fertilizer application, and planted in randomised blocks on sandy (site 1) and clayey (site 2) soils. Plants were harvested after 26 weeks for measurements of shoot dry weight (DW), stem diameter, height, mycorrhizal root colonization and leaf nutrient contents. At site 1, VAM increased shoot DW, stem diameter and plant height only in treatments without P applied. Increases in shoot DW due to VAM were 70% greater than the uninoculated controls although this was reduced to 5% when P was applied. At site 2, VAM inoculation also increased shoot DW and stem diameter but the magnitude of the increases was smaller. Shoot DW response due to VAM was only 29%. At this second site, applying phosphate to uninoculated plants did not increase shoot yields further. Leaf concentrations of all nutrients were unaffected by VAM at both sites, except for copper (Cu) which was increased by VAM in treatments where P was not applied. However, leaf contents of P, potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and Cu were increased by VAM at site 1, and of leaf nitrogen (N) and K at site 2. These experiments demonstrate that VAM-fungi could be introduced into field nursery sites to improve growth and P uptake by H. brasiliensis. The relevance of VAM-fungi to H. brasiliensis seedling rootstock development and the influence of IMF in determining field responses is discussed.     

Fungi in neotropical epiphyte roots

Roots of thirty-eight Ecuadoran vascular epiphytes, representing eleven angiosperm families, were examined for the presence of symbiotic microorganisms. Most orchid roots contained fungal endophytes like those that regularly infect terrestrial counterparts. Hyphae were also common in and on nonorchid roots, but assignments of these relationships to known mycorrhizal morphologies was not possible in all cases. Evidence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) existed in a number of subjects while in Ericaceae and Campanulaceae a fungal association similar to the demateaceous surface fungi (DSF) described for alpine and prarie plants was usually present. Some associations were characterized by multicellular propagules on root surfaces. The significance of these findings and the factors likely to influence occurrence and consequences of root-fungus mutualisms in tropical forest canopies are discussed. Facts and considerations that could aid future inquiry on these systems are provided.     

Plant life span and response to inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Summary This study sought to investigate the relationships among residual soil phosphorus (P) pools, plant life span, successional persistence and responsiveness to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) infection. Plants of five species which varied in life span, persistence, and VAM responsiveness were grown in nutrientpoor soils in a glasshouse for 8 weeks and given weekly feedings with either high- or low-P solutions. There was little effect of plant life span or VAM status on changes in residual available (1 M KCl extractable) P. In contrast, there were strong correlations between VAM responsiveness and changes in the exchangeable P pool (1 M NH₄C₂H₃O₂ extractable). Plants with greater VAM responsiveness and greater persistence through succession were able to reduce this potentially available P pool by as much as 50% in 8 weeks. In contrast, plants with poor or negative responsiveness to mycorrhizal infection and little successional persistence exhibited little control over potentially available P pools. These data confirm other studies which demonstrate that VA mycorrhizae access insoluble forms of P, thereby controlling potential supply rate over the longer term. Such control over soil P pools may contribute to successional persistence via either inhibition or tolerance mechanisms, and should be considered in any comprehensive theory of the mechanisms underlying succession.     

Mycorrhizal colonizations of ferns and lycophytes on the island of La Réunion in relation to nutrient availability

Very little is known about the degree and ecological correlates of mycorrhization of lycophytes and ferns, although mycorrhizae are believed to be crucial for the majority of land plants. We screened the degree of mycorrhizal colonization for all 75 fern species recorded in nine survey plots across a wide range of soil conditions on the island of La Réunion, including five plots on lava flows of different age. Overall, 66% of all samples had mycorrhizae, but ground-dwelling species had significantly higher colonization levels (78%) than epiphytes (58%). Among ground-dwelling species, 98% of the individuals belonged to species with mycorrhizae, which was significantly higher than at the species level. Most samples had glomeromycetes as fungal partners, but septate endophytes were found in 41% of the colonized samples. While we found no significant relationship between the percentage of fern species with mycorrhizae per plot and seven ecological parameters, the percentage of fern individuals with mycorrhizal colonizations per plot significantly increased on shallow soils with high pH values and high base-saturation. This supports the idea that mycorrhizal colonizations confer an ecological advantage to colonized individuals, and that this advantage is more pronounced on nutrient-deficient sites. Our study thus provides evidence for an ecological advantage of mycorrhizae for ferns, but raises the question why, despite this advantage, species level mycorrhization among ferns (68%) is so much lower than the average for land plants (85%).