XVI International Botanical Congess

We are investigating the diversity and spatial distribution of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi of the ericaceous shrub salal, Gaultheria shallon. We cultured and mapped fungi from adjacent 2 mm cuttings along 2 cm segments of colonized root. Working with 380 cultures from 800 2 mm cuttings, we used RFLP analysis and DNA sequencing of the ITS regions to recognize 8 major groups of ascomycetes. More than 75 of the cultures are related to, but not necessarily conspecific with Hymenoscyphus ericae. In contrast to the cultured ascomycetes, four groups of basidiomycetes predominated among over 130 clones from direct PCR amplification from 14 field collected roots. The usual ascomycetes were cultured from these roots. We are examining the conflict between culturing and cloning.