Ericoid mycorrhiza: ecological and host specificity

Abstract

 Ericoid mycorrhiza, found in plants belonging to a few families of the Ericales, is seen as the most specific of mycorrhizas, and this has generated much research into the basis of the specificity. Recently, however, non-vascular plants have been found to be able to form the same type of mycorrhiza, and the diversity of the fungal partners has expanded. This review assesses the present state of host and ecological specificity of ericoid mycorrhizas and discusses future lines of research.