The mycorrhizal endophytes ofGriselinia littoralis(Cornaceae)

Abstract

The normal endophyte of Griselillia JitJoralis is an obligate symbiont identified as Rhiz()phaglu p()plliinlls Dangeard. Its morphology and behaviour, when attempts are made to establish agar cultures from root pieces, are similar to those reported by investigators in several countries studying a wide range of hosts. A fungus with similar arbuscles but smaller vesicles and narrower hrphae may occur independently, or with R. poplllilll11. Like R. p()plllilll11 it stimulates growth in poor soils. It is named R. Itllllis sp. nov, \X'hen pieces of root were placed on soil agar, hrphae of R. populinus emerged from 70-90% of them, and grew for 2-3 weeks in association with moulds and bacteria. It was impossible to ascertain whether the finer mycelium of R. lenuis behaved similarly. The growth of R. poplilinlil was greatly reduced when all other organisms were killed by surface sterilisation of root sections, and did not respond to nutrients in the agar, or to the presence of autoclaved hemp seed.Attempts to srnthesise mrcorrhizas using cultures of Pylhium or a culture of RhizophagllJ from Dr }. T. Barrett did not succeed. A search for Endogonaceous fructifications associated with the roots of G. littoralis was unsuccessful.

Ecology of Mycorrhizae and Mycorrhizal Fungi

“…These endophytes, which do not form identifiable resting spores, are common in many grasslands and undisturbed ecosystems. They were first named Rhizophagus tenuis (Greenall, 1963), now changed to Glomus tenuis (Hall, 1977), but they are frequently referred to as "fine endophyte." Such a descriptive name, based simply on hyphal diameter and other anatomical features, may be preferable to their controversial inclusion in the genus Glomus, from which they differ markedly.…”

A field survey of mycorrhizas in New Zealand ferns

“…The formation of phycomycetous mycorrhizas by the coniferous and broad leaved trees of New Zealand forests and by the indigenous grasses of tussock grasslands has been well established (McNabb 1958, Baylis 1967, Greenall 1963, Crush 1973. The Orchidaceous and Ericaceous endotrophic associations are also represented in New Zealand (McNabb 1958(McNabb , 1961Brook 1952;Morrison 1954Morrison , 1960 and areas of native beech or exotic pine seem to be consistently ectomycorrhizal (Morrison 1956;Mejstrik 1971Mejstrik , 1972.…”

Biological flora of New Zealand 12:Griselinia lucida, puka, akapuka, akakōpuka, shining broadleaf

“…These organisms were found to increase shoot length, lead to higher phosphorus and lower nitrogen levels, and be crucial for the sustained growth of G. littoralis (Baylis 1959;Greenall 1963).…”