DEVELOPMENT OF EXTERNAL HYPHAE BY DIFFERENT ISOLATES OF MYCORRHIZAL GLOMUS SPP. IN RELATION TO ROOT COLONIZATION AND GROWTH OF TROYER CITRANGE

Abstract

SUMMARYThe hypothesis was tested that the amount of external hyphae of a vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus extending from roots out into soil is not always proportional to the extent of colonization of the root cortex. Growth enhancement and amount of external hyphae were compared for eight isolates of five Glomus spp. that differed in their geographic origin and capacity to enhance growth of Troyer citrange, but were similar in their capacity to extensively colonize Troyer citrange roots. In general, isolates from California increased growth in a P‐deficient (9.8 mg kg−1) California soil more than did non‐native isolates from Florida soils. The difference between the capacity of California and Florida isolates to enhance growth was not a function of the degree to which they colonized the roots since all had colonized over 95% of the root length by the time of harvest. Differences in growth enhancement did appear, however, to be a function of the amount of external hyphae that had developed as estimated by the weight of soil they had bound into aggregates. This study suggests that isolates of VA mycorrhizal fungi may differ in their capacity to develop an external hyphal system independent of their capacity to colonize the root cortex, and that we cannot assume that high levels of colonization will necessarily mean the fungus has also developed the mycelium in the soil necessary to transport nutrients responsible for plant growth enhancement.