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THE BIOLOGY OF MYCORRHIZA IN THE ERICACEAE
Author(s) -
STRIBLEY D. P.,
READ D. J.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1980.tb01677.x
Subject(s) - ericaceae , botany , vaccinium , humus , biology , endophyte , mycorrhiza , mineralization (soil science) , soil water , symbiosis , ecology , bacteria , genetics
S ummary Young mycorrhizal plants of Vaccinium macrocarpon could utilize amino acids as a nitrogen source as readily as ammonium whereas aseptically grown plants and plants inoculated with common soil saprophytic fungi were unable to utilize the organic nitrogen compounds. Seedlings of Festuca ovina grown as controls in the sterile condition and in the presence of the ericaceous endophyte also failed to utilize the amino compounds. The capacity of the ericaceous plant to exploit these compounds is therefore dependent upon mycorrhizal infection. In contrast to cultures of Marasmius oreades , the endophyte failed to grow on complex nitrogenous humic and fulvic acids extracted from soils under ericaceous plants. The capacity to utilize simple organic nitrogen compounds could be of importance for mycorrhizal ericaceous plants in mor‐humus soils which are characterized by slow rates of nitrogen mineralization.