Ontogeny of Alnus rubra – Alpova diplophloeus ectomycorrhizae. I. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Ectomycorrhizae synthesized between Alpova diplophloeus and Alnus rubra are of two morphological types: one with a mantle formed along the entire length of the lateral roots and the other, the clavate type, with the mantle confined to the apical portion of the laterals. The morphology of the mycorrhiza is dependent on the stage of lateral root elongation at the time of colonization by fungal hyphae. Clavate mycorrhizae form on lateral roots that have already elongated at the time of fungal colonization. Fungal hyphae interact with root hairs at the base of clavate mycorrhizae. Mantles of both types are fairly compact with few extramatrical hyphae. Hartig net hyphae, which branch profusely primarily in the radial direction, are confined to the epidermis and midway along the radial walls of the outer layer of cortical cells. Second-order lateral root primordia are initiated in the mature Hartig net zone. Cells in the outer layer of the cortex of mycorrhizal roots collapse during fixation, indicating the possible presence of a barrier in the cell wall blocking the ingress of fixative.