Spores of mycorrhizal Endogone species extracted from soil by wet sieving and decanting

Abstract

Extra-matrical spores of Endogone were found to be common in cultivated soils in Scotland. Six types of spores are described which are believed to represent distinct species. In preliminary inoculation experiments 4 of the 6 formed endotrophic mycorrhiza: three of these formed arbuscules and vesicles, and one formed only arbuscules. In field soil extra-matrical spores are much more abundant than spores formed in sporocarps.