THE CHARACTERIZATION AND ESTIMATION OF POLYPHOSPHATES IN ENDOMYCORRHIZAS OF THE ERICACEAE

Abstract

Metachromatic staining demonstrated the presence of polyphosphate granules in endophytes isolated from root systems of Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait., Rhododendron ponticum L., Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, Erica hispidula L. and E. mauritanica L. The granules accumulated in response to high concentrations of phosphorus in the external medium and during the lag phase of growth. Nucleic acid‐polyphosphate co‐precipitates prepared from endophytes were separated by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the molecular weights of polyphosphate of three endophytes were between 3000 and 4700. Inoculated root systems of Vaccinium macrocarpon had significantly more acid‐labile polyphosphate than non‐mycorrhizal roots. The results are compared with studies of polyphosphate in ecto‐ and vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizas and are discussed in relation to ultrastructural analyses and the role of polyphosphate in the phosphorus nutrition of ericaceous plants in heathlands. Copyright © 1985, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved