Pure culture synthesis and host specificity of red alder mycorrhizae

Abstract

Cultures of 28 ectomycorrhizal fungi were tested in pure culture syntheses for mycorrhiza formation with red alder. Only 4 of the 28 fungi tested formed characteristic ectomycorrhizae: Alpova diplophloeus, Paxillus involutus, Aslraeus pteridis, and Scleroderma hypogaeum. These mycorrhizae are briefly described, and the specialization of alder mycorrhizae is discussed.