New Phytologist (2007) 174, 441-446

Rimvydas Vasiliauskas, Audrius Menkis, Roger D. Finlay and Jan Stenlid (2007)
Wood-decay fungi in fine living roots of conifer seedlings
New Phytologist 174 (2), 441-446
Abstract: - The mycorrhizal basidiomycetes are known to have multiple, independent evolutionary origins from saprotrophic ancestors. To date, a number of studies have revealed functional resemblance of mycorrhizal fungi to free-living saprotrophs, but information on the ability of saprotrophic fungi to perform as mycorrhizal symbionts is scarce.
- Here, the objective was to investigate the ability of three wood-decay fungi, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Phlebia centrifuga and Hypholoma fasciculare, to colonize fine roots of conifer seedlings.
- For each fungus, mycorrhizal syntheses were attempted with Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris. After 24 wk, isolation of fungi and direct sequencing of fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA were carried out from healthy-looking surface-sterilized root tips that yielded both pure cultures and ITS sequences of each inoculated strain. Mycelial mantle of P. gigantea was frequently formed on root tips of P. abies, and microscopical examination has shown the presence of intercellular hyphae inside the roots.
- The results provide evidence of the ability of certain wood-decay fungi to colonise fine roots of tree seedlings.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Rimvydas Vasaitis, Audrius Menkis, Jan Stenlid

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hypholoma fasciculare
	Phlebiopsis gigantea	Spruce (Picea)
	Phlebia centrifuga