THE DIVERSITY OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH INTRODUCED PINUS SPP IN THE SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

Although pines have been established in plantations in Western Austral ia for over 100 years, knowledge of the ectomycorrhizal fungal flora i s incomplete, or lies in unpublished reports. A survey of ectomycorrhi zal fungi associated with Pinus spp. was conducted throughout south-we stern Australia. Compared with other regions in the Southern Hemispher e where pines have been introduced, the ectomycorrhizal flora of pines in Western Australia is particularly depauperate, with only nine spec ies of fungi identified from sporocarps and a further two taxa identif ied from mycorrhizas. Species identified from sporocarps (Hebeloma cru stuliniforme, Lactarius deliciosus, Paxillus involutus, Rhizopogon lut eolus, R. roseolus, R. vulgaris, Suillus luteus, S. granulatus, Thelep hora terrestris) and Cenococcum geophilum are a subset of a larger pin e mycorrhizal flora found in eastern Australia, and 8 of the 10 identi fied species are common to all regions in the Southern Hemisphere wher e pines have been introduced. These fungi are typically associated wit h trees, including pines, in the Northern Hemisphere and, apart from C enococcum geophilum and T. terrestris, are not associated with indigen ous vegetation in Western Australia. The mycorrhizal flora colonising roots in a plantation of Pinus radiata D. Don was also investigated, a nd compared with species identified as present by above-ground sporoca rp production. Potential reasons for the limited ectomycorrhizal flora of pines in Western Australia are discussed.