title: Occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in bromeliad species from the tropical Atlantic forest biome in Brazil.
abstract: The mycorrhizal status of epiphytic, rupicolous, and terrestrial bromeliad species from the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest has been examined. Roots of 13 species of bromeliads were analyzed for the presence of mycorrhizal structures such as arbuscules, hyphae, and vesicles as well as other fungal structures. Rhizosphere soil was sampled to identify arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species associated only with terrestrial bromeliad species. Most specimens collected were epiphytic bromeliads in the genera Aechmea, Bilbergia, Nidularium, Tillandsia, and Vriesea. Differentiating structures of AMF were found in only three species of bromeliads. The pattern of mycorrhizal colonization was mainly internal, and external mycelium and arbuscules were observed only in the terrestrial Nidularium procerum. Root endophytes with dark brown septate mycelium, thin external hyphae, and Rhizoctonia-like sclerotia were also detected in some root segments. A total of ten spore morphotypes were recovered from the rhizosphere of N. procerum, with Acaulospora mellea, A. foveata, and Glomus sp. being the most common species recovered. Our study demonstrated that most of the epiphytic species are not associated with AMF. We attribute this mainly to the exposed bare root conditions found in epiphytic bromeliads.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais (DCN), Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Cx.P. 1507, 89010-971, Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Grippa
authors.affiliation: Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa Científica e Tecnológica do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC), Rodovia SC 401, Km 01, no. 600-ParqTec Alfa-módulo 12 A, 5° andar, 88030-000, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Patricia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hoeltgebaum
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais (DCN), Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Cx.P. 1507, 89010-971, Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. sturmer@furb.br.
authors.forename: Sidney Luiz
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Stürmer
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D031229:Bromeliaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013559:Symbiosis; D014329:Tropical Climate