Fungal communities associated with roots of the Betulaceae.

摘要

Communities of fungi associated with roots and nodules of Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia and the roots of Betula papyrifera collected at four sites in the aspen parkland ecosystem around Edmonton, Alberta, were described using taxonomic and physiological approaches. Patterns in community structure, diversity, and composition and their relationship to collection site and host were analyzed. Comparisons of overall community structure showed the collection site has greater influence than the type of host, despite fungal communities associated with alder nodules having lower species diversity than roots of either host species. Fungal species that appeared to be specific to one of the three habitats investigated were fewer than generalist species. The root endophyte Leptodontidium orchidicola isolated at one site produced fertile apothecia in culture. This novel teleomorph is Mollisia rhizophila sp. nov.