Summary
The mycorrhizal associations of Rhododendron maximum in the southern Appalachian mountains were studied in relation to the supply and demand of phosphate at three altitudes. A variety of mycorrhizal associations are described together with the ability of the differing mycorrhizal types to produce phosphatase enzyme, which was inversely related to the availability of inorganic phosphate determined by a root bioassay, as Ectomycorrhizal associations were shown to have a higher phosphatase production potential than other mycorrhizas. The availability of inorganic phosphate at different altitudes is related to turnover of organic matter and fixation capacity of the mineral soil. It is speculated that the ability of R. maximum to associate with a range of mycorrhizal associates is likely to improve species' fitness and enhance its competitive ability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abuzinadah RA, Read DJ (1986) The role of proteins in the nitrogen nutrition of ectomycorrhizal plants. I. Utilization of peptides and proteins by ectomycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 103:481–493
Agerer R (1987) Colour atlas of ectomycorrhizae. Einhorn, Schwäbisch Gemünd
Allen MF (1991) The ecology of mycorrhizae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Allen SE, Grimshaw HM, Parkinson JA, Quarmby C (1974) Chemical analysis of ecological materials. Blackwell, Oxford
Bache BW, Williams EG (1971) A phosphate sorption index for soils. J Soil Sci 22:289–301
Bajwa R, Read DJ (1986) Utilization of mineral and amino N sources by the ericoid mycorrhizal endophyte Hymenoscyphus ericae and by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings of Vaccinium. Trans Br Mycol Soc 87:269–277
Bajwa R, Abuarghub S, Read DJ (1985) The biology of mycorrhizas of the Ericaceae. X. The utilization of proteins and the production of proteolytic enzymes by the mycorrhizal endophyte and mycorrhizal plants. New Phytol 101:469–486
Boettcher SE, Kalisz PJ (1990) Single-tree influence on soil properties in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Ecology 71:1365–1372
Boring LR, Swank WT, Monk CD (1988) Dynamics of early successional forest structure and processes in the Coweeta basin. In: Swank WT, Crossley DA (eds) Forest hydrology and ecology at Coweeta. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 161–179
Bradley R, Burt AJ, Read DJ (1982) The biology of mycorrhizas in the Ericaceae. VIII. The role of mycorrhizal infection in heavy metal resistance. New Phytol 91:197–209
Brundrett M (1991) Mycorrhizas in natural ecosystems. Adv Ecol Res 21:171–313
Cross JR (1975) Biological flora of the British Isles: Rhododendron ponticum L. J Ecol 63:345–364
Dighton J (1983) Phosphatase production by mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 71:455–462
Dighton J (1991) Acquisition of nutrients from organic resources by mycorrhizal autotrophic plants. Experientia 47:362–369
Dighton J, Harrison AF (1983) Phosphorus nutrition of lodgepole pine and Sitka spruce stands as indicated by a root bioassay. Forestry 56:33–43
Dighton J, Harrison AF (1990) Changes in phosphate status of Sitka spruce plantations of increasing age, as determined by root bioassay. For Ecol Manage 31:35–44
Dighton J, Thomas ED, Latter PM (1987) Interactions between tree roots, mycorrhizas, a saprotrophic fungus and the decomposition of organic substrates in a microcosm. Biol Fertil Soils 4:145–150
Duddridge J, Read DJ (1982) An ultrastructural analysis of the development of mycorrhizas in Rhododendron ponticum. Can J Bot 60:2345–2356
Englander L, Hull RJ (1980) Reciprocal transfer of nutrients between ericaceous plants and a Clavaria sp. New Phytol 84:661–667
Giltrap NJ (1982) Production of polyphenol oxidase by ectomycorrhizal fungi with special reference to Lactarius spp. Trans Br Mycol Soc 78:75–81
Harrison AF (1987) Soil organic phosphorus: a review of world literature. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International, Wallingford
Harrison AF, Helliwell DR (1979) A bioassay for comparing phosphorus availability in soils. J Appl Ecol 16:497–505
Ingleby K, Mason PA, Last FT, Fleming LV (1990) Identification of ectomycorrhizas. (ITE research publication no 5) HMSO, London
Johnson CR, Joiner JN, Crews CE (1980) Effect of N, K and Mg on growth and leaf nutrient composition of three containergrown woody ornamentals inoculated with mycorrhizae. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 105:286–288
Kormanik PP, Bryan WC, Schultz RC (1980) Procedures and equipment for staining large numbers of plant roots for endomycorrhizal assay. Can J Microbiol 26:536–538
Koske RE, Gemma JN, Englander L (1990) Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in Hawaiian ericales. Am J Bot 77:64–68
Kroehler CJ, Antibus RK, Linkins AE (1988) The effects of organic and inorganic phosphorus concentrations on the acid phosphatase activity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Can J Bot 66:750–756
Largent DL, Sugihara N, Wishner C (1980) Occurrence of mycorrhizae on ericaceous and pyrolaceous plants in northern California. Can J Bot 58:2275–2279
Linkins AE, Antibus RK (1981) Mycorrhizae of Salix rotundifolia in coastal arctic tundra. In: Laursen GA, Ammirati F (eds) Arctic and alpine mycology. University of Washington Press, Washington, pp 509–531
Monk CD, McGinty DT, Day FP Jr (1985) The ecological importance of Kalmia latifolia and Rhododendron maximum in the deciduous forests of the southern Appalachians. Bull Torrey Bot Club 112:187–193
Moore-Pankhurst S, Englander L (1981) A method for the synthesis of mycorrhizal association between Pezizella ericae and Rhododendron maximum seedlings growing in a defined medium. Mycologia 73:994–997
Pearson V, Read DJ (1973) The biology of mycorrhizas in the Ericaceae. I. The isolation of the endophyte and synthesis of mycorrhizas in aseptic culture. New Phytol 72:371–379
Peterson TA, Mueller WC, Englander L (1980) Anatomy and ultrastructure of a Rhododendron root-fungus association. Can J Bot 58:2421–2433
Read DJ (1991) Mycorrhizas in ecosystems. Experientia 47:376–391
Read DJ, Stribley DP (1975) Some mycological aspects of the biology of mycorrhiza in the Ericaceae. In: Sanders FE, Mosse B, Tinker PB (eds) Endomycorrhizas. Academic Press, London, pp 105–117
Seviour RJ, Willing RR, Chilvers GA (1973) Basidiocarps associated with ericoid mycorrhizas. New Phytol 72:381–385
Swank WT, Crossley DA Jr (1988) Introduction and site description. In: Swank WT, Crossley DA (eds) Forest hydrology and ecology at Coweeta. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 3–16
Woolhouse HW (1969) Differences in the properties of acid phosphatases of plant roots and their significance in the evolution of edaphic ecotypes. In: Rorison IH (ed) Ecological aspects of the mineral nutrition of plants. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 357–380
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dighton, J., Coleman, D.C. Phosphorus relations of roots and mycorrhizas of Rhododendron maximum L. in the southern Appalachians, North Carolina. Mycorrhiza 1, 175–184 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00203292
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00203292