Ontogeny of Eucalyptus pilularis – Pisolithus tinctorius ectomycorrhizae. II. Transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

Eucalyptus pilularis – Pisolithus tinctorius ectomycorrhizae were synthesized in growth pouches, and ultrastructural features of the two symbionts were documented during ontogeny. In the root cap – meristem zone, fungal hyphae envelop the root cap and penetrate between root cap cells. These fungal hyphae have numerous organelles and nuclei, some of which are in mitosis. The inner mantle hyphae in this zone and in the pre-Hartig net zone are heterogeneous in cytoplasmic content and are separated from the epidermis by an electron-dense layer. In the young Hartig net zone, hyphae penetrate between epidermal cells which contain electron-dense vacuolar deposits. In this zone and in the older Hartig net zone, hyphae do not penetrate beyond the epidermis and therefore a paraepidermal Hartig net is formed. The outer cortical layer develops as a hypodermis with suberized cell walls. The root–fungus interface consists of Hartig net hyphae which form a labyrinthine wall system and epidermal cells which are enlarged radially and contain electron-dense vacuolar deposits.