PARASITISM OF NONHOST PLANTS BY THE MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS TUBER MELANOSPORUM

Fungal infections in the roots of weeds growing in developing brules ( areas with little vegetation) around trees infected with Tuber melanos porum (Perigord black truffle) produced severe necrosis in the root co rtices. Polyclonal antibodies developed against T. melanosporum were u sed to demonstrate a close association between these infections and T. melanosporum, suggesting T. melanosporum was pathogenic to the weeds and was, at least in part, responsible for the brule.