Arbuscular mycorrhizas and ectomycorrhizas on Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtaceae) trees and seedlings in native forests of tropical north-eastern Australia
Felicity Adams A B E , Paul Reddell C , Michael J. Webb A D and Warren A. Shipton BA CSIRO Land and Water, Private Mail Bag Aitkenvale, Qld 4814, Australia.
B Microbiology and Immunology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
C CSIRO Tropical Forest Research Centre, PO Box 780, Atherton, Qld 4883, Australia.
D Papua New Guinea Oil Palm Research Association, PO Box 36, Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
E Corresponding author. Email: Felicity.Adams@nrm.qld.gov.au
Australian Journal of Botany 54(3) 271-281 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT05028
Submitted: 17 February 2005 Accepted: 8 September 2005 Published:
Abstract
Eucalypts have been shown to form both arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) in glasshouse experiments. Little is known, however, about the relative dominance of these two mycorrhiza types on individual eucalypt species across their natural range. This study examined mycorrhizal colonisation levels of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden roots at 29 sites representing a broad range of wet sclerophyll forest types in the wet tropics of north-eastern Australia. Adult E. grandis trees sampled in situ were invariably heavily ectomycorrhizal, with 76–100% fine root length colonised (% RLC). There were comparatively low levels of AM, with typically less than 10% RLC. Seedling E. grandis grown in intact soil cores from the field sites under glasshouse conditions had lower total levels of mycorrhiza formation compared with adult trees, with more variable ECM formation (10–95% RLC) and more extensive AM formation (10–40% RLC). There were no apparent trends in mycorrhiza formation across different soil parent material, rainfall or vegetation categories used. The current research suggests that arbuscular mycorrhizas are more prominent on seedlings, whereas ectomycorrhizas predominate in adult trees of E. grandis. Possible reasons for these differences and a comparison with other studies of eucalypt mycorrhizas under natural conditions are presented.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award, CSIRO Land and Water Supplemental Research Scholarship and research funding from the Rainforest CRC and CSIRO Land and Water. The primary author would like to thank Tony Morrison for his invaluable assistance with the field work, Sue Joyce, Grace Baker and Lea Keto for their encouragement and guidance with various laboratory techniques, and Steve McDermott and her family for their great moral support. The provision of permits by the Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines is gratefully acknowledged.
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