Abstract
In this chapter, the methods devised for the visualisation, in vivo monitoring and quantification of anastomosis formation in mycorrhizal networks formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are described. Anastomoses can be detected in hyphae originating from the same or different germlings and scored for compatible or incompatible responses. Successful anastomoses occur between hyphae belonging to the same or different individuals of the same isolate, whereas hyphae of individuals belonging to different genera, species and geographically different co-specific isolates are unable to fuse. The structure of extraradical networks growing from mycorrhizal roots can be studied by means of a bidimensional model system, allowing the assessment of growth rate, extent, viability and anastomosing ability of ex-novo-produced extraradical mycelium. This experimental model system has been also modified to show interconnections between mycorrhizal networks originating from different host plant species, genera and families, which can create immeasurably large numbers of fungal linkages within communities.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Chiariello N, Hickman JC, Mooney HA (1982) Endomycorrhizal role for interspecific transfer of phosphorus in a community of annual plants Plantago erecta. Science 217:941–943
Cortesi P, Milgroom MG, Bisiach M (1996) Distribution and diversity of vegetative compatibility types in subpopulations of Cryphonectria parasitica in Italy. Mycol Res 100:1087–1093
Dahlberg A, Stenlid J (1994) Size, distribution and biomass of genets in populations of Suillus bovinus (L.: Fr.) Roussel revealed by somatic incompatibility. New Phytol 128:225–234
de la Providencia IE, de Souza FA, Fernandez F, Delmas NS, Declerck S (2005) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reveal distinct patterns of anastomosis formation and hyphal healing mechanisms between different phylogenic groups. New Phytol 165:261–271
Francis R, Read DJ (1984) Direct transfer of carbon between plants connected by mycorrhizal mycelium. Nature 307:53–56
Fries N (1987) Somatic incompatibility and field distribution of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus (Boletaceae). New Phytol 107:735–739
Gandolfi A, Sanders IR, Rossi V, Menozzi P (2003) Evidence of recombination in putative ancient asexuals. Mol Biol Evol 20:754–761
Giovannetti M, Mosse B (1980) An evaluation of techniques for measuring vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal infection in roots. New Phytol 84:489–500
Giovannetti M, Sbrana C (2001) Self and non-self responses in hyphal tips of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In: Geitmann A, Cresti M (eds) Cell biology of plant and fungal tip growth. NATO science series, series I: Life and behavioural sciences, vol.328. IOS, Amsterdam, pp 221–231
Giovannetti M, Azzolini D, Citernesi AS (1999) Anastomosis formation and nuclear and protoplasmic exchange in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:5571–5575
Giovannetti M, Sbrana C, Logi C (2000) Microchambers and video-enhanced light microscopy for monitoring cellular events in living hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 226:153–159
Giovannetti M, Fortuna P, Citernesi AS, Morini S, Nuti MP (2001) The occurrence of anastomosis formation and nuclear exchange in intact arbuscular mycorrhizal networks. New Phytol 151:717–724
Giovannetti M, Sbrana C, Strani P, Agnolucci M, Rinaudo V, Avio L (2003) Genetic diversity of geographically different isolates of Glomus mosseae detected by vegetative compatibility and biochemical and molecular analysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:616–624
Giovannetti M, Sbrana C, Avio L, Strani P (2004) Patterns of below-ground plant interconnections established by means of arbuscular mycorrhizal networks. New Phytol 164:175–181
Glass NL, Jacobson DJ, Shiu PKT (2000) The genetics of hyphal fusion and vegetative incompatibility in filamentous ascomycete fungi. Annu Rev Genetics 34:165–186
Graves JD, Watkins NK, Fitter AH, Robinson D, Scrimgeour C (1997) Intraspecific transfer of carbon between plants linked by a common mycorrhizal network. Plant Soil 192:153–159
Grime JP, Mackey JML, Hillier SH, Read DJ (1987) Floristic diversity in a model system using experimental microcosms. Nature 328:420–422
Hamel C, Fyles H, Smith DL (1990) Measurement of development of endomycorrhizal mycelium using three vital stains. New Phytol 115:297–302
Jones MD, Durall DM, Tinker PB (1998) Comparison of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal Eucalyptus coccifera: growth response, phosphorus uptake efficiency and external hyphal production. New Phytol 140:125–134
Lerat S, Gauci R, Catford JG, Vierheilig H, Piche Y, Lapointe L (2002) 14C transfer between the spring ephemeral Erythronium americanum and sugar maple saplings via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in natural stands. Oecologia 132:181–187
Leslie JF (1993) Fungal vegetative compatibility. Annu Rev Phytopathol 31:127–150
Logi C, Sbrana C, Giovannetti M (1998) Cellular events involved in survival of individual arbuscular mycorrhizal symbionts growing in the absence of the host. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:3473–3479
Milgroom MG, Cortesi P (1999) Analysis of population structure of the chestnut blight fungus based on vegetative incompatible genotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:10518–10523
Newman EI, Eason WR (1993) Rates of phosphorus transfer within and between ryegrass (Lolium perenne) plants. Funct Ecol 7:242–248
Pearson JN, Jakobsen I (1993) Symbiotic exchange of carbon and phosphorus between cucumber and three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 124:481–488
Perry DA, Amaranthus MP, Borchers JG, Borchers SL, Brainerd RE (1989) Bootstrapping in ecosystems. Bioscience 39:230–237
Phillips JM, Hayman DS (1970) Improved procedure for clearing roots and staining parasites and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans Br Mycol Soc 55:158–161
Robinson D, Fitter A (1999) The magnitude and control of carbon transfer between plants linked by a common mycorrhizal network. J Exp Bot 50:9–13
Schubert A, Marzachí C, Mazzitelli M, Cravero MC, Bonfante-Fasolo P (1987) Development of total and viable extraradical mycelium in the vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus clarum Nicol. and Schenck. New Phytol 107:183–190
Sen R (1990) Intraspecific variation in two species of Suillus from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests based on somatic incompatibility and isozyme analyses. New Phytol 114:607–616
Simard SW, Perry DA, Jones MD, Myrold DD, Durall DM, Molina R (1997) Net transfer of carbon between ectomycorrhizal tree species in the field. Nature 388:579–582
Smith SE, Gianinazzi-Pearson V (1990) Phosphate uptake and arbuscular activity in mycorrhizal Allium cepa L.: effects of photon irradiance and phosphate nutrition. Aust J Plant Physiol 17:177–188
Smith SE, Read DJ (1997) Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Academic, London
Sylvia DM (1988) Activity of external hyphae of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Soil Biol Biochem 20:39–43
Watkins NK, Fitter AH, Graves JD, Robinson D (1996) Carbon transfer between C3 and C4 plants linked by a common mycorrhizal network, quantified using stable carbon isotopes. Soil Biol Biochem 28:471–477
Acknowledgements
The financial support from the FISR SOILSINK Project (2005–08) and from CNR AG.P01.001 “Molecular, physiological and cellular bases of crop production”, is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Giovannetti, M., Avio, L., Sbrana, C., Fortuna, P. (2009). In Vivo Model Systems for Visualisation, Quantification and Experimental Studies of Intact Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Networks. In: Varma, A., Kharkwal, A.C. (eds) Symbiotic Fungi. Soil Biology, vol 18. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-95894-9_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-95894-9_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-95893-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-95894-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)