Utilization of mineral and amino N sources by the ericoid mycorrhizal endophyte Hymenoscyphus ericae and by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings of Vaccinium

Abstract

The ability of the ericoid mycorrhizal endophyte Hymenoscyphus ericae and of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal ericaceous plants to utilize mineral and simple organic nitrogen is analysed. Growth of the endophyte occurs readily on acidic, basic and neutral amino-acids and on the amino-sugar glucosamine, final yields on most of these sources being comparable with those obtained on ammonium. Mycorrhizal plants produce greater yields than non-mycorrhizal ones and have higher nitrogen contents on several of the amino-acids tested. The significance of these results is discussed in relation both to the physiology of the endophyte and to the availability of N sources in soils.