Observations of canopy bromeliad roots compared with plants rooted in soils of a seasonal tropical forest,Chamela, Jalisco,Mexico

Roots of canopy bromeliads of a seasonal tropical forest were observed for mycorrhizal activity and compared with plants rooted in the soil during the later part of the growing season. No vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae or ectomycorrhizae were observed in the bromeliads. However, some interesting septate fungi were observed within the cortex of all samples where the roots were present in organic matter trapped in the canopy. All 15 soil-rooted plant species we observed were vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal. While no known mycorrhizal types were apparently present in these canopy epiphytes, we cannot rule out the possible formation of symbioses between canopy epiphytes and other fungi in these habitats.