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Index

  1. How Images were Made
  2. Safety Information
  3. Clearing and Staining Roots
  4. Quantifying Mycorrhizal Roots
    1. Arbuscular Mycorrhizas
    2. Ectomycorrhizas
  5. Designating Mycorrhizas
    1. Arbuscular Mycorrhizas
    2. Ectomycorrhizas
    3. Facultative and NM Plants
    4. Endophytic Fungi
    5. Recommendations
  6. Case Studies

Version 2.0
© Mark Brundrett 2008

MYCORRHIZAL ASSOCIATIONS: The Web Resource

Section 10. METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING MYCORRHIZAS

 

A. How Images were Made

Most of the images of mycorrhizal associations presented on this website were made using relatively easy and inexpensive methods. Mycorrhizal images are of whole cleared roots or relatively thin cross sections of roots made by hand using a sharp razor blade. Staining and microscopy procedures used to make fungus hyphae visible are explained in detail in Subsection C, while more specific stains for plant structures are briefly introduced below.

1. Root Systems
sandbinding Roots

Low magnification images of root systems were taken with a camera and macro lens. This example is sand-binding roots in an Australian rush (Lyginia imberbis).



Ectomycorrhizal short roots (16KB)

Relatively low magnification images of roots were taken with a dissecting microscope with a camera attachment. This example is of ECM short roots of birch (Betula alleghaniensis).



2. Mycorrhizas
VAM colony

A compound microscope allowed mycorrhizal structures within roots to be observed. These roots were first cleared in hot alkali to make them transparent and then stained with a dye (Chlorazal black E in most cases) that binds to fungal hyphae, as explained below.



Arbuscule

Interference contrast microscopy provided highly detailed images of mycorrhizal associations viewed at high magnification with a compound microscope.



Ectomycorrhizal short roots (15KB)

Structural details of the Hartig net of ECM associations were observed using thin hand sections of roots. These sections were gently cleared in hot alkali, stained with Chlorazal black E and viewed with interference contrast microscopy (Brundrett et al 1990, 1996). Hand sections are made by cutting across root segments that were immobilised between pieces of laboratory film on a Petri dish lid (Frohlich 1984).



3. Root Anatomy
Autofluorescence of a Thuja root

In some cases root structures and mycorrhizal hyphae were observed using unstained hand sections under a fluorescence microscope with UV light.



Onion root exodermis

Suberin and lignin in hand sections of roots was stained with the fluorescent alkaloid Berberine with Aniline blue counterstaining and observed under a fluorescence microscope (Brundrett et al. 1988).



Fraxinus root exodermis

The lipid stain Fluorol was also applied to hand sections of roots to reveal suberin in exodermal and endodermal cells in fluorescence microscope images (Brundrett et al 1991).



 

B. Safety Information

It is the responsibility of all scientists and educators who use chemicals to obtain current safety information on materials which they use themselves or ask others to use. Mycorrhizal scientists routinely use chemicals which are considered to be dangerous. Safety information is provided by the suppliers of chemicals and the sources listed below.

Examples of Substances Considered to be Dangerous

  • Chlorazol black E (Direct black 38 C.I. No. 30235)
  • Trypan blue (Direct blue 14, C.I. No. 23850)
  • Other stains (azo dyes) and many other chemicals

Examples of sources of information

 

C. Clearing and Staining Mycorrhizal Roots

The following sections are excerpts from the book: Brundrett M, Bougher N, Dell B, Grove T, Malajczuk N. 1996. Working with Mycorrhizas in Forestry and Agriculture (Chapter 4.2, pp. 179-183). See Vierheilig et al. (2005) for a review of all staining techniques for mycorrhizal fungi in roots.

Diagrams on this page are also available as pdf files to download.

Equipment and Reagents

  • ~60 % ethanol or methanol (v/v) root preservative
  • 10 % KOH (w/v potassium hydroxide) dissolved in water. This is an exothermic reaction - use a heat resistant container!
  • 0.03 % w/v Chlorazol black E in (CBE) in lactoglycerol (1:1:1 lactic acid, glycerol and water). Dissolve CBE in water before adding equal volumes of lactic acid and glycerol
  • 0.05 % w/v trypan blue in lactoglycerol (1:1:1 lactic acid, glycerol and water)
  • 5 % Ink in vinegar
  • Lactoglycerol or 50% glycerol-water (v/v) solution for destaining and storage of stained roots
  • food grade lactic acid and glycerol are adequate and can be purchased in bulk
  • autoclave (121° C), waterbath, or oven (60-90° C) to heat root samples for clearing and staining
  • autoclave-resistant glass jars or tubes to hold samples
  • fine mesh screen (± 100 µm) to prevent root loss when changing solutions
  • fine forceps and dissecting needles to transfer roots
  • plastic vials with tight-sealing lids for storage of samples

Introduction

Structures produced by VAM fungi are invisible in fresh roots because internal structures are obscured by the natural pigments and cell contents within roots. While whole ECM roots can often be identified by observation with a dissecting microscope, internal details of these associations are revealed by removing pigments in roots cells and mantle hyphae. Clearing procedures that use chemical agents such as hot alkali to remove cell contents and cell wall pigments, are a valuable method for viewing internal features in plant tissues (Gardner 1975). Fungal structures in plant tissues can be observed by the use of stains which bond to fungal hyphae without much background staining of the cleared plant material. Stains such as Trypan blue, Chlorazol black E (CBE) in lactoglycerol, or ink in vinegar are used to stain mycorrhizal structures that were cleared by heating in KOH (Bevege 1968, Phillips & Hayman 1970, Kormanik & McGraw 1982, Brundrett et al. 1984, Vierheilig et al. 1998). This procedure is outlined below.

 

Safety warnings!!!

  1. 10% w/v KOH is used to clear roots. Care should be taken to avoid skin contact with this caustic chemical! Use gloves, safety glasses, etc.
  2. The toxic chemical phenol,which has traditionally been included in some stain preparations, should not be used! - its omission will have little influence on staining quality.
  3. Chlorazol black E and trypan blue are suspected to be carcinogens (as are many other biological stains- Coombes & Haveland-Smith 1982)! Use gloves to protect your hands when using stain solutions and take care to avoid breathing dust, or getting any in your eyes, when handling dye powders.
  4. Formalin-based preservatives are bad for your health. Preservation of plant samples with methanol or ethanol works as well and is much safer.
  5. Refer to safety data sheets for the latest information on the chemicals you use.
Plant with roots (3KB) Arrow (1KB)

1. Root samples

Clearing and staining procedures require root samples that have been washed free of soil. It is imperative that KOH or staining solution volumes are sufficient for the amount of roots being processed and that roots are not tightly clumped together - for uniform contact with solutions. It is often best to chop roots into 2-4 cm long segments before clearing them. It may be necessary to sub- divide or sub-sample large volumes of roots to obtain good results. The fine roots of woody plants can also be separated from coarse roots, after determining their proportion of the total root system.

Roots (6KB) Arrow (1KB) Clear roots (5KB)

2. Clearing roots with KOH

  1. KOH 10% w/v is normally used to clear roots. Clearing procedures require root samples that are no more than 1-2 g. Many published micrographs of VAM show roots that were insufficiently cleared, perhaps due to low temperatures, short times, or large samples. Roots that are insufficiently cleared will still have cell contents which obscure mycorrhizal structures, while over-cleared roots may disintegrate.
  2. Root clearing is fastest in an autoclave, which provides the most efficient means of processing samples. An autoclave liquids cycle of 15-20 minutes at 121° C is usually sufficient. Samples containing old roots, roots with abundant phenolics, or field-collected roots may require additional clearing (25-60 minutes). Use autoclave-resistant glass containers that are less than one-third full to avoid overflow in the autoclave. Wide containers work better than tall narrow tubes.
  3. Roots can also be cleared in a water bath by heating the KOH to 60-90° C. The time required with this method varies widely - roots from young plants will usually only require 2-4 hours, but samples of field-collected or heavily pigmented roots may require much longer to be cleared (from 5 hours to several days). One hour of clearing at 60° C is approximately equivalent to 5 minutes in an autoclave at 121° C.
  4. Cleared roots are captured on a fine sieve and rinsed with water or dilute acid several times before transferring them into the staining solution.
Arrow (1KB) Roots in stain(5KB) Arrow (1KB) Stained roots (5KB)

3. Staining roots with Chlorazol black E, Trypan blue, or Ink

  1. For detailed microscopic examinations, cleared roots can be stained with Chlorazol black E (CBE) in a lactoglycerol solution (Brundrett et al. 1984). The optimum stain concentration will depend on the dye source an microscope procedure used. 0.03% w/v is best in most cases, but it is best to try a range of concentrations (0.1%, 0.03%, 0.01%) when using this procedure with a new type of roots, or when using a new source of dye.
  2. Roots are stained by heating for several hours at 90° C, or 15 minutes in an autoclave using a liquids cycle at 121° C, or by leaving them in staining solution at room temperature for one or more days. The staining solution may be reused several times is filtered through folded cheesecloth or fine nylon screen after each use (to remove root fragments), until it becomes translucent.
  3. Roots can also be stained with Trypan blue (Bevege 1968, Phillips & Hayman 1970, Kormanik & McGraw 1982). A concentration of 0.05% w/v in lactoglycerol is often used to stain cleared roots as described above. Trypan blue stained images have lower contrast than those stained with CBE (Brundrett et al. 1984). However, trypan blue staining is adequate for assessment of colonisation levels, where colour contrast may be beneficial. Acid fuchsin and cotton blue can also be used to stain fungi in roots, but destain rapidly and produce low-contrast images (Brundrett et al. 1984).
  4. A more recently developed staining method uses ink and vinegar (Vierheilig et al. 1998, 2005). This staining solution consists of a 5% ink diluted in vinegar (5% acetic acid). Staining with black writing inks (Shaeffer Jet Black; Cross Black; Pelikan Black) and some blue inks (Pelikan Blue) give good staining results.
Roots in stain(6KB) Arrow (1KB) Stained roots (5KB)

4. Working with darkly pigmented roots

  1. Prolonged clearing times with KOH will often remove more phenolic pigments from roots, but may not be appropriate if root samples tend to disintegrate, or contain wall-bound secondary metabolites which are resistant to clearing.
  2. Post-clearing bleaching with alkaline hydrogen peroxide (0.5% NH4OH and 0.5% H2O2 v/v in water) effectively removes any phenolic compounds left in cleared roots (Bevege 1968, Kormanik & McGraw 1982). The time required for roots to discolour in this solution varies between samples. This procedure should be used cautiously because subsequent staining of mycorrhizal fungus hyphae may be reduced. Hydrogen peroxide bleaching of cleared roots is particularly useful for revealing the Hartig net in whole ECM roots (Nylund et al. 1982, Brundrett er al. 1990).
  3. CBE and trypan blue stain lignified, or suberised cell walls in roots, especially xylem, endodermal and exodermal cells, as well as fungal hyphae. This staining cannot be completely eliminated by clearing or bleaching steps, but will not conceal mycorrhizal details if roots are squashed sufficiently under a cover slip.
Other stains (6KB)

5. Alternative methods

  1. Vital staining procedures that measure succinate dehydrogenase activity can be used to confirm that mycorrhizal fungus hyphae which are enumerated are metabolically active (Vierheilig et al. 2005). However, the assessment of arbuscular colonisation levels provides similar information.
  2. Modifications to standard clearing and staining procedures have been proposed for safety reasons. Grace and Stribley (1991) suggest that methyl blue or aniline blue can be used as less toxic replacements for Chlorazol black E or trypan blue. However, there is insufficient evidence to confirm that these other dyes are non-toxic — all dyes should be handled carefully. A lower concentration of KOH (2.5%) can be used to reduce the risk of injury (Koske & Gemma 1989), but may not be effective with roots that are hard to clear.
Stained roots (5KB)

6. Sample storage and slide preparation

  1. CBE stained roots become clearer after destaining roots in 50% glycerol for several days.
  2. Roots stained with CBE can be stored in 50% glycerol, but other dyes are not permanent unless samples are stored in lactoglycerol or kept in the staining solution.
  3. Semi-permanent slides of stained roots can be made with a Poly-vinyl alcohol based (PVLG) mountant (Koske & Tessier 1983), or a gum arabic based mounting media (Cunningham 1972).
  4. Interference-contrast microscopy substantially enhances the contrast of fine details of fungal structures (Brundrett et al. 1984).
 

D. Quantifying Mycorrhizal Roots

Comprehensive instructions for processing root samples to detect and quantify mycorrhizas are published in manuals which should be consulted for further information (Brundrett et al. 1994, 1996). A brief summary of these methods is outlined below (after Chapter 4.3 in Brundrett et al. 1996).

Mycorrhizal studies often require estimates of the proportion of roots in a sample that contain mycorrhizal structures. After clearing and staining them, root length can be measured simultaneously with mycorrhizal colonization by a gridline intersection procedure (Giovannetti & Mosse 1980), or separately by viewing slides with a compound microscope (McGonigle et al. 1990).

The length of mycorrhizal roots present in a sample should be presented along with data on the proportion (%) of root length occupied by these fungi, because mycorrhizal root length is more directly correlated with association costs/benefits and inoculum production by the fungus. Root-length data can be used to calculate root production (growth) rates, root densities (within a volume of soil) and specific root lengths (root length/weight ratios) which provide valuable information about the capacity of roots to obtain water or nutrients from soils and their ability to form mycorrhizal associations.

Analysis of colonisation data
Data on mycorrhizal colonization of roots, and the distribution of fungal propagules such as spores, is often highly variable and/or has a non-normal frequency distribution (St. John & Hunt 1983, Friese & Koske 1991). Thus, statistical analysis of such data will usually require data to be transformed, or the use of non-parametric statistics.

Equipment

  • Clear plastic dishes with inscribed grid lines to measure colonization
  • Fine screen (100 µm) with nylon mesh for transferring roots from solutions
  • Fine forceps and probes for manipulating roots
  • Microscope slides, long cover slips and PVLG mountant (Koske & Tessier 1983)
  • Plastic vials with tight-sealing lids for storage of samples
  • Dissecting microscope with a transmitted light illumination – a clear plastic panel over the microscope base is recommended to provide a stable platform and for protection from spilled liquids
  • Compound microscope with an eyepiece crosshair
 

1. Roots with Arbuscular Mycorrhizas

  1. The most frequently used root measuring procedure is a modification of the grid line intersect method (Newman 1966, Tennant 1975, Giovannetti & Mosse 1980), in which roots are randomly dispersed in a 9-cm diameter Petri plate with grid lines as shown below. The observer scans along these grid lines with a dissecting microscope to quantify intersections between grid lines and roots — which are designated as either colonised or nonmycorrhizal.
  2. The proportion of root length that is mycorrhizal and total root length can then be calculated from a conversion factor derived from the total length of grid lines and the area of the dish (Newman 1966, Tennant 1975). If a 11/14 cm (approx. 1/2 inch) grid is used the number of intersects will provide values of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal root length in cm (see example in table below).
  3. Giovannetti & Mosse (1980) recommend that at a minimum 100 intersections should be used to assess a sample, and found that accuracy was improved if samples were re-randomized and counted several times.
  4. A much simpler procedure, where an observer simply provides a visual estimate of the degree of mycorrhizal colonization (within 5 or 10 %) can also be reliable (Giovannetti & Mosse 1980). While this method is subjective and prone to operator bias, it still can provide sufficient information when precise values are not required (for pot culture quality control, or when looking at samples from the field).
The gridline intersection method for VAM assessement part 1
The gridline intersection method for VAM assessement part 2

A gridline intersection example using a 8.5 cm diameter round Petri dish with a 1/2 inch (14/11 cm) grid, and a 1 m test sample of thread cut into fragments and randomly re-distributed 10 times (Figure 4.3 in Brundrett et al. 1996). Row and column totals are summarised in the table below.

Re-distribution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Intersects (cm) 102 107 91 98 92 114 108 99 104 94
Average 100.9 cm ± 2.5 (standard error)
  1. When mycorrhizal colonization is being assessed using a dissecting microscope, it is always a good idea to make slides from a sub-sample of roots for observation with a compound microscope. This will allow fungi that do not stain well (such as many Acaulospora and some Glomus species) to be seen, and the contribution of saprobic or parasitic fungi to be determined. The contribution of different morphotypes of mycorrhizal fungi can also be estimated.
  2. A compound microscope with an eye piece cross-hair moved to randomly selected positions can be used to measure the length of arbuscules, vesicles and internal hyphae within roots (McGonigle et al. 1990), as shown below.
The compound microscope method for VAM assessement

Microscopic examination of roots to quantify arbuscular mycorrhizas (Figure 4.4B in Brundrett et al. 1996).

 

2. Quantifying Ectomycorrhizal Associations

  1. A variety of methods have been used to quantify ECM roots. Unstained ECM roots can usually be distinguished from non-mycorrhizal roots by differences in their colour, thickness, texture and branching patterns. However, a clearing and staining or sectioning procedure (see above) is necessary to visualise the Hartig net to confirm that an ectomycorrhizal association is present. A post-clearing bleaching step to remove excess tannins, often helps reveal the Hartig net in ECM roots.
  2. ECM roots are usually quantified by sampling seedlings, or washing roots from soil cores, taking care to exclude contaminating roots of non-target species. Assuming that roots are young and healthy, each mycorrhizal root tip will contain an active Hartig net zone (where active exchange processes are thought to occur). These tips can be counted to quantify the intensity of the association and their numbers should be expressed relative to root length and soil volume.
  3. The root length of a sample can be measured with the gridline intersect method, while either simultaneously measuring the length of mycorrhizal roots, or separately counting the total number of mycorrhizal tips (see below).
  4. Ectomycorrhizal association of may be difficult to recognise in ustained roots if there are minimal changes to branching and thickness the host root.
The compound microscope method for Ectomycorrhiza assessement

Using the gridline intersection method to quantify ectomycorrhizal roots (Figure 4.5A in Brundrett et al. 1996).

 

E. Designating Mycorrhizal and Nonmycorrhizal Roots

Different criteria have been used to designate plants with mycorrhizal associations and this has sometimes lead to confusion in the mycorrhizal literature (Harley & Smith 1983, Brundrett 1991). A comprehensive definition of mycorrhizas is presented in Section 1, but definitions of nonmycorrhizal (NM) roots and different categories of mycorrhizas are also required to consistently identify mycorrhizas. Consequently the correct identification of mycorrhizas requires evidence based on all of these definitions. Definition used to recognise VAM and ECM associations are discussed below using protocols from Brundrett et al. 1996 (Section 1.6 p. 32-37).

 

1. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) Associations

The presence of arbuscules in a root are used to designate plants with VAM. However, these structures are ephemeral and may be absent from field-collected roots. Consequently, hyphal colonization alone is often used to identify VAM associations, but hyphae and vesicles of VAM fungi will also occupy non-host roots (see below). Hyphal coils or longitudinal hyphae, but not arbuscules, may be seen in roots collected form the field for the following reasons.

  1. Roots of many species persist in the soil for months or years without secondary growth, but arbuscules are ephemeral structures that last for only a few weeks (Brundrett & Kendrick 1990). However, it should always be possible to find arbuscules if samples contain young roots (with growing tips).
  2. Roots from the field are often heavily pigmented with phenolics and other secondary metabolites and may require a post-clearing bleaching step.
  3. Arbuscules may be harder to see in plants with coiling VAM, or or incases where they occur in a single cortex layer (Brundrett & Kendrick 1990).
  4. In ecosystem studies, saprophytic colonization of non-host roots, rhizome scales, etc. by hyphae and vesicles of Glomeromycotan fungi is relatively common, as shown in the case study below.
  5. Exploitative VAM associations of myco-heterotrophic plants lack arbuscules.

Consequently, determining if older roots had VAM may require prior knowledge of that plant species. This knowledge includes root phenology information and prior observations of the same or closely related species. More information will result in safer conclusions.

 

2. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Associations

The presence of a Hartig net, consisting of labyrinthine hyphae between root epidermal or cortex cells, is normally used to identify ECM roots (Harley & Smith 1983). Mycorrhizal experiments have shown that Hartig net formation is a good indicator of host-fungus compatibility and is correlated with host growth responses (Tonkin et al. 1989, Burgess et al. 1994, Dell et al. 1994). Morphological definitions are used to identify mycorrhizal associations. Ectendomycorrhizas, arbutoid and monotropoid associations are all considered to be types of ECM associations (Section 1). Some plants have both ECM and VAM, as explained in the section on dual associations.

Observations of the fruiting of putative ECM fungi near a potential host plant does not provide sufficient evidence to confirm the presence of an association (Harley & Smith 1983). Problems arise if fungi fruit a considerable distance from their host tree or are wrongly assumed to form ECM associations. One such example, explained below, involves the fungus Gyrodon (Boletinellus) merulioides which was thought for many years to be an ECM associate of ash trees (Fraxinus americana) – a tree which only has VAM. It is now known this fungus forms an association with aphids which are parasitic on Fraxinus roots (Brundrett & Kendrick 1987).

 

3. Facultative Associations and Nonmycorrhizal Plants

Detailed examinations of plants in natural ecosystems often show consistent differences between host plants in both the intensity and consistency of mycorrhiza formation (proportion of root system involved). These observations have shown that species generally either have consistently high levels of mycorrhizas, low, or variable levels of mycorrhizas, or are not mycorrhizal (Janos 1980, Brundrett & Kendrick 1988). Plants belonging to these categories are designated as obligatorily mycorrhizal, facultatively mycorrhizal, or nonmycorrhizal as explained in Section 7. Plants with facultative mycorrhizas consistently have low levels of colonisation (i.e. under 25 % of root length) (Janos 1980, Brundrett & Kendrick 1988). Characteristics of plant roots systems, especially root hair length and abundance, are usually correlated with the degree of mycorrhizal formation, as summarized in the table below.

Typical features of host root systems and mycorrhizal formation that are associated with categories of mycorrhizal formation.

Designation: Obligate Facultative Nonmycorrhizal
Colonization:      
Arbuscules young roots sparse or variable none
hyphae or vesicles older roots sparse or variable may occur in old roots
Roots:      
diameter often coarse usually fine usually fine
root hairs few/short many/long many/long

4. Endophytic Associations

Endophytic fungi with symptomless associations are common in the roots of plants (Addy et al. 2005. Schultz & Boyle 2005, Schultz et al. 2006). Endophytic growth by mycorrhizal fungi is fairly common and differs primarily from mycorrhizal associations formed by the same fungi elsewhere by the lack of arbuscules or coordinated development in young roots (Brundrett 2004, 2006). Saprophytic activity also differs from mycorrhizal associations, because the roots involved usually are senescent, often also contain saprophytic fungi. Endophytic colonisation of NM plants is considered to be of limited functional significance because does not result in plant growth responses (Ocampo 1986, Muthukumar et al. 1997, Giovannetti & Sbrana 1998).

Glomeromycotan fungi are ubiquitous soil organisms that can colonize a variety of substrates, including rhizome scales and senescing roots of NM and ECM species (St. John et al. 1983, Harley & Harley 1987, Brundrett & Kendrick 1988, Cázares & Trappe 1993, Smith et al. 1998, Imhof 2001). Endophytic activity is distinguished from functional dual ECM/VAM associations by the absence of arbuscules. It is probable that some reports of VAM in plants from predominantly NM families result from saprophytic activity, if arbuscules were not used to definite VAM. It is less likely that these reports result from misidentification of the fungus, since hyphae and vesicles have a characteristic appearance.

Non-symbiotic fungi also often grow on the surface of roots and sometimes this resembles ECM associations, but these roots lack a Hartig net and the morphological responses (swelling and branching of short roots) found in true ECM. Examples of fungal growth on Acer and Scaevola roots are illustrated below and discussed in Section 8. Fungi colonizing the root surface may be beneficial, harmful or neutral to plants.

Examples of endophytic growth by mycorrhizal fungi and other fungi are illustrated in the case studies provided below.

 

5. Recommendations

The presence of arbuscules should be used to identify VAM and the presence of a Hartig net to define ECM associations. However, these definitions are not always applied and careful judgment may be required when interpreting mycorrhizal associations in roots collected from the field, particularly if roots are old, or associations are atypical.

There is disagreement about whether arbuscular mycorrhizas or vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas is the most appropriate name for these associations (see Brundrett 2004). The name arbuscular mycorrhizas has gradually become more common than vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas in the scientific literature. It is advisable to use both the words arbuscule and Glomeromycotan in the title or keywords of papers to ensure they will be retrieved by computerised search programs in the future.

The terms ectomycorrhiza / ectomycorrhizas / ectomycorrhizal should be used for ECM associations.

The degree of mycorrhizal formation of a host plant is usually expressed as the proportion (%) of root length colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. However, roots with a periderm (bark) layer resulting from secondary growth should be excluded, since they have no cortex. In ecosystem surveys, it is best to express the degree of mycorrhizal colonization as the proportion of roots available for colonization that were mycorrhizal. This requires an understanding of the dynamics of root growth and mycorrhizal formation.

 

F. Case Studies

endophytis growth of a VAM fungus in rhizome scale

Hyphae (arrows) and vesicles (V) of a Glomeromycotan fungus within a rhizome scale of Hydrophyllum virginianum, a nonmycorrhizal plant. This is saprophytic activity without arbuscules (Brundrett & Kendrick 1988).


ICON
From Brundrett & Kendrick 1988

 Hyphae on maple root

Hyphal growth on the surface of roots is sometimes mistaken for ECM. This unidentified fungus is growing on roots of Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) a VAM host from Canada.



From Brundrett & Kendrick 1988

Unadentified fungus on Scaevola root

An unidentified fungus growing on roots of Scaevola calliptera (Fan Flower) a VAM host from Western Australia. Members of this family (Goodeniaceae) were reported to have ECM-like associations without a Hartig net (Warcup 1980).



See Brundrett & Abbott 1991

Conidial fungus superficial ECM in nursery grown plants (20KB)

Unusual associations can occur in nursery-grown tree seedlings in the absence of more typical ECM fungi. In this case a conidial fungus has formed “superficial” ECM in nursery grown Eucalyptus seedlings with a thin mantle.



From Brundrett 2006

Ash Bolete (Gyrodon meuloides)

The ash bolete (Gyrodon merulioides) specifically fruits under ash trees (Fraxinus americana) in North America, so was listed as an ECM fungus, even though ash trees only have VAM. However, G. merulioides actually has a mutualistic association with root-feeding aphids it protects within hollow black sclerotia (Brundrett & Kendrick 1988).


From Brundrett & Kendrick 1988
The roll-over shows a sclerotia with aphids on an ash tree root in cross section

 

Version 2.0 © Mark Brundrett 2008