Endogone Spores in a Heathland Area of South-Eastern Australia

Abstract

An area of heath occurring on sandy podzolic soil at Cranbourne in Victoria has been studied. Relative spore numbers of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have been monitored over a period of 2 years at sites containing disturbed and undisturbed native vegetation, as well as recolonizing areas of mixed indigenous and introduced species. A large number of 'Endogone' spores were found, and some correlation between peak spore numbers and periods of high rainfall was recorded at the disturbed sites. No such correlation was found in undisturbed heath. Many spores of varying morphology were examined, and eight spore types belonging to the non-sporocarpic members of the Endogonaceae have been described in detail. The viability of a white, bulbous-based spore type was investigated following storage in different conditions for varying lengths of time.