ULTRASTRUCTURAL SPATIAL-DISTRIBUTION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH SPOROCARPS OF GLOMUS-MOSSEAE

Transmission electron microscopy studies showed many bacteria associat ed with the sporocarps of Glomus mosseae, occurring not only on the hy phal surface, but also on the surface of spores within the sporocarps and in microniches formed by peridial hyphae. Sequential cuts of the s porocarps showed the spatial distribution of the bacteria, and evidenc ed bacterial cells embedded in spore walls by means of tunnels mined w ithin the electron-dense spore wall layers. Quantitative determination s of microorganisms associated with G, mosseae sporocarps showed the o ccurrence of large numbers of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes on the sporocarp surface and in the sporocarp homogenate. Moreover, chitinol ytic microbes were detected in the sporocarps.