Nitrogen uptake and growth in vitro by Hebeloma crustuliniforme and other Pacific Northwest mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract

Since little is known about the nitrogen (N) physiology of ectomycorrhizal fungi, this study was initiated to study both radial and biomass growth and N uptake of Hebeloma crustuliniforme and other Pacific Northwest ectomycorrhizal fungi. Hebeloma crustuliniforme utilized either nitrate or ammonium as the N source in buffered liquid media, but biomass growth was greatest with ammonium. Without buffers, biomass growth on ammonium-based media was reduced, apparently owing to low pH. These results emphasize the strong interrelationship between N source and pH of the media. A pronounced pH optimum for biomass growth of H. crustuliniforme occurred at pH 5.0. Ammonium uptake rates were five to nine times greater than nitrate uptake rates over a range of N concentrations (40–600 μM). Radial growth rates of a range of mycorrhizal fungi were greater on high-N than on low-N media. For those few species that grew faster on low-N medium, their growth habit was more diffuse and dry weight production was decreased, indicating that radial growth had occurred at the expense of biomass production.