Abstract:

A simple in vitro system was employed for ectomycorrhizal synthesis of Abies firma Sieb. et Zucc. with Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton. The aim of this present study was to study whether the symbiosis of A. firma broad occurred with L. bicolor and whether the symbiosis of A. firma only occurred at the whole plant level. The results of the study show that the typical ectomycorrhizal structures, i.e. thick mantle and intracortical Hartig net, were observed in the lateral roots of A. firma after incubation of 10 weeks. In case of callus, three weeks following incubation, fungal hyphae were visible within the intercellular spaces of the callus cells and Hartig net-like structures were observed in transverse section. This was the first report of aseptic ectomycorrhization of A. firma seedlings, and ectomycorrhizal colonization on A. firma callus by L. bicolor. These results suggested that the callus system might be a useful tissue system for mycorrhiza synthesis in the present study. This model system may facilitate detailed studies on ectomycorrhizal development of Abies species.

Key words: Abies firma , callus, ectomycorrhizas, Laccaria bicolor