MYCORRHIZAE AND MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI OF CALYPSO BULBOSA

The seasonal development and fungal endophytes of the mycorrhizal roots of Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes were studied using fresh collections from Alberta and herbarium specimens from six herbaria. Typically, a single pair of mycorrhizal roots are produced at the base of a single corm each growing season. No evidence was found to support the putative existence of a coralloid rhizome in this species. The pattern of fungal infection, peloton formation, and breakdown is similar to other nonsaprophytic, terrestrial orchids. The endophytic fungi of a single mycorrhizal root can belong to a number of different fungal taxa. Fungi isolated and described include Rhizoctonia anaticula Currah, Thanatephorus pennatus Currah, Leptodontidium orchidicola Sigler and Currah, Phialocephala fortinii Wang and Wilcox, and two unnamed isolates of Rhizoctonia.