title: Characterisation of ectomycorrhizal formation by the exotic fungus Amanita muscaria with Nothofagus cunninghamii in Victoria, Australia.
abstract: The occurrence of the exotic ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita muscaria in a mixed Nothofagus-Eucalyptus native forest was investigated to determine if A. muscaria has switched hosts to form a successful association with a native tree species in a natural environment. A mycorrhizal morphotype consistently found beneath A. muscaria sporocarps was examined, and a range of morphological and anatomical characteristics in common with those described for ectomycorrhizae formed by A. muscaria on a broad range of hosts were observed. A full description is provided. The likely plant associate was determined to be Nothofagus cunninghamii based upon anatomy of the roots. Analysis of ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences confirmed the identities of both fungal and plant associates. These findings represent conclusive evidence of the invasion of a non-indigenous ectomycorrhizal fungus into native forest and highlight the ecological implications of this discovery.
authors.affiliation: La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. christopher.dunk@rbg.vic.gov.au
authors.forename: Christopher William
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Dunk
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lebel
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Keane
mesh_terms: D000545:Amanita / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001315:Australia; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*