Abstract
Cathaya argyrophylla, a critically endangered conifer, is found to grow at four isolated areas located in subtropical mountains of China. To examine the involvement and usefulness of mycorrhizas for sustaining the population of this tree, we compared the root system, morphology, and structure of mycorrhizal roots of C. argyrophylla, which were collected from a natural stand and an artificial stand, each grown at a different location. More mycorrhizal roots were found for trees from an artificial stand. The presence of extramatrical mycelium, mantle, and Hartig net revealed that C. argyrophylla formed an ectomycorrhizal association in both sampling sites. Starch granules were found in mycorrhizal roots collected only from a natural stand. The aseptic synthesis of C. argyrophylla and Cenococcum geophilum was established for the first time in vitro. Typical ectomycorrhizas formed on seedlings on RM medium containing 0.1 g/l glucose, 5 weeks after inoculation. By light microscopy, the synthesized mycorrhizas showed a thin mantle from which emanated extramatrical hyphae and highly branched Hartig net. A simple, rapid, and convenient mycorrhiza synthesis system was developed, which facilitates further studies on ectomycorrhizal development of C. argyrophylla.
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Acknowledgements
The field investigations were supported by State Key Basic Research and Development Plan (G2000046805) and the laboratory studies by a grant from Northeast Forestry University (010-602024). The first author also wishes to thank Mr. Shi-Jiang Ning (Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, and The Chinese Academy of Sciences) for help in the field investigations.
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Vaario, LM., Xing, ST., Xie, ZQ. et al. In situ and in vitro colonization of Cathaya argyrophylla (Pinaceae) by ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 16, 137–142 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-005-0026-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-005-0026-5