Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Festuca species in the Canadian High Arctic

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Dalpé, Yolande, Aiken, Susan G
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1998
• Subjects: Plant Science; Arctic; Gerd; Leek; Arctic biodiversity; Festuca brachyphylla; Festuca hyperborea
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b98-165; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b98-165

Root and soil samples from 13 collecting sites located in the Canadian High Arctic were harvested between July 18 and 29, 1991, and surveyed for root colonization and spore populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Grasses of the genus Festuca (Festuca brachyphylla Schult. & Schult., Festuca baffinensis Polunin, and Festuca hyperborea Holmen ex Frederiksen) served as target plants. Of the 197 plant-root systems and soil rhizospheres examined, 28% were associated with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Roots of both F. brachyphylla andF. baffinensis were colonized, while none were detected in F. hyperborea root specimens. Five arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species were extracted from indigenous soils. The most frequent and abundant species was Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe, which was isolated from 8 of the 13 sites sampled. Other Glomales species in Arctic soils were Glomus macrocarpum Tul & Tul., Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe emend. Walker & Koske, and two other unidentified Glomus species. Trap cultures of the indigenous soil with leek (Allium porrum L.) plants confirmed the identity of the species previously identified from original soil and allowed the detection of an additional species, Glomus aggregatum Schenck. & Smith. The novelty of these observations and the relationship between plant mycorrhizal status, fungal species, and soil disturbance are discussed.Key words: mycorrhizae, Arctic, biodiversity, Glomus, Festuca.