Local and microscale distributions of Cenococcum geophilum in soils of coastal pine forests

To clarify the local and microscale distribution patterns of Cenococcum geophilum at soil surfaces in coastal pine forests, we collected soil samples in Pinus thunbergii stands. To investigate the local distribution of C. geophilum, five soil samples were collected randomly to obtain roots of P. thunbergii at four study sites. To examine the microscale distribution of fungi, 19 soil samples were collected from a 5 × 5 m quadrat at a minimum interval of 15 cm. Ectomycorrhizas of P. thunbergii were examined and identified morphologically. C. geophilum mycorrhizas were retrieved from all the sites at the local scale and from all sampling points within a site at the microscale. The occurrence frequency of C. geophilum ectomycorrhizas ranged from 20.0 to 62.6 % at the sites studied. These results suggest that C. geophilum is the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungus and is distributed ubiquitously in coastal pine forests of Japan.