Abstract
The ultrastructure of ectomycorrhizas formed between Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch and Telephora terrestris (Ehrenb.) Fr. was analyzed just before the transplant of these seedlings to the field to ascertain if fungi are established in the roots. Ectomycorrhizal fungi formed a well-developed compact mantle in lateral roots. Vacuoles, nuclei and dolipore septa were observed in mantle hyphae and numerous nuclei, endoplasmatic reticulum and polymorphic mitochondria were frequently located in the cytoplasm of Hartig net hyphae adjacent to plant cortical cells. Highly vacuolated cortical cells contained droplets of electron-dense material, nucleus and some organelles were observed in a narrow region of peripheral cytoplasm. The ectomycorrhizas of P. caribaea var. hondurensis exhibited typical ultrastructural characteristics of a compatible and physiological active association.
Highlights
Ectomycorrhiza is the symbiotic association between roots of some woody plants and fungus, which belong to the Basidiomycota, Ascomycota and Glomales (Zygomycota), characterized by the presence of hyphae between root cortical cells producing a netlike structure called the Hartig net (Sylvia et al 1997)
Electron microscopy is a useful tool for cytochemical localization (Rincon et al 2001) and imunolocalization (Tagu et al 2001) allowing the researches to compare the ultrastructure of different types of ectomycorrhizas
In the Southern plains of Anzoategui and Monagas States (Venezuela) in a large forestation area belong to CVG (Corporación Venezolana de Guayana) PROFORCA (Productos Forestales de Oriente Compania Anonima), seedlings of Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis) are inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungi Pisolithus tinctorius and Thelephora terrestris to improve the effectiveness on seedlings establishment
Summary
Ectomycorrhiza is the symbiotic association between roots of some woody plants and fungus, which belong to the Basidiomycota, Ascomycota and Glomales (Zygomycota), characterized by the presence of hyphae between root cortical cells producing a netlike structure called the Hartig net (Sylvia et al 1997). In this association carbon flows to the fungus, which absorb and translocate nutrients from the soil to the host plant (Sylvia et al 1997). For more than 30 years this region of Venezuela has been planted with Caribbean pine and until December 2000, pine comprised an extension of 615,000ha, which represents the largest tropical area with a monospecific
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