Biology of the ectomycorrhizal genus, Rhizopogon: III. Influence of co-cultured conifer species on mycorrhizal specificity with the arbutoid hosts Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Arbutus menziesii.

Seedlings of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws, Arbutus menziesii Pursh., and cuttings of Arclast apliylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng were grown in monoculture and in conifer-hardwood dual-culture combinations in the glasshouse and inoculated with spore slurries of six Rhizopogon species. The primary objectives were to assess and compare the pattern of host specificity between symbionts and to study the influence of co-cultured plants on ecromycorrhiza development. The Rhizopogon spp. ranged from genus-specific to multiple-host compatible. In monoculture, four Rhisopogon sp, (R. ellenae Smith, R. occidentalis Zeller & Dodge, R. smithii Hosfnrd and R. subcaerulescens Smith) formed ectomycorrhizas with Pinus ponderosa, and two Rhizopogon sp. (R. parksii Smith and R. vinicolor Smith) formed ectomycorrhizas with Pseudotsuga menziesii. None of the fungi tested developed ectomycorrhizas on Arbutus menziesii or Arctostaphylos uvaursi in monoculture. In dual culture, three of the four Rhizopogon species (R. ellenae, R. occidentalis and R. subcaerulescens) that formed ectomycorrhizas on Pinus ponderosa, formed some ectomycorrhizas on Arbutus menziesii and Arrtastaphvlos uva-ursi. Rhizopogon parksii and R. tinicoior only formed ectomycorrhizas on Pseudotsuga mensiesti.