ECTOMYCORRHIZAL TYPES AND ENDOBACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH ECTOMYCORRHIZAS OF MORCHELLA-ELATA (FR) BOUDIER WITH PICEA-ABIES (L) KARST

Subterranean morel sclerotia connected with ascomata of Morchella elat a (Fr.) Boudier were found to surround 155 ectomycorrhizal root tips o f Picea abies (L.) Karst, belonging to seven different types. Based up on anatomical and cytological studies, three ectomycorrhizal types cou ld be attributed to types already described, whereas four types appear ed to be undescribed. The nature of the association between the morel and the mycorrhizal types was dependent on the type and was not relate d to their vitality. In particular, morel ectomycorrhizas formed secon darily and exclusively by succeeding to primary mycorrhizas of a heter obasidiomycete. In addition to this triple association, an endobacteri um was observed growing within the Hartig net of this heterobasidiomyc ete mycorrhiza. The significance of this complex of associations for t he formation of ectomycorrhizas by the morel is discussed.