VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE IN HAWAIIAN ERICALES

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae are reported for the first time in Vaccinium calycinum, V. dentatum and V. reticulatum (Ericaceae) and Styphelia tameiameiae (Epacridaceae). The coarse roots (>1.5 mm diam) of many specimens were densely colonized by VAM fungi, with up to 90% of the length of roots containing arbuscules, vesicles, coils, and internal hyphae. Spores of an undescribed Glomus sp. were associated with 2 species of Vaccinium. An evolutionary sequence of mycorrhizal dependency in the Ericales is presented. -from Authors