Date of Award
5-1983
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Department
Biology
College
College of Science and Engineering
First Advisor
Lester E. Lindstrom
Second Advisor
John C. Cronn
Third Advisor
Edward A. Weiskoph
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
tree roots, symbiosis, fungi, mushrooms, fluorescent antibodies, microscopy, mycorrhizae
Abstract
Ectomycorrhizal fungi were surveyed in local native pure stands of quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. Seventeen species were identified.
Morphology ·of P. tremuloides ectomycorrhizae were studied by light microscopic examination of whole mounts and paraffin sections stained with saffranin and fast green. Fungal morphology was compared with literature descriptions as a means of identifying observed fungal symbionts.
Pure culture of five of the fungi was attempted on ten different laboratory media commonly used for growth of fungi. The inability of ectomycorrhizal fungi to grow in culture indicates the dependence of these organisms on their host.
Two of the fungi, Amanita vaginata (Fr .) Vitt. and Lactarius uvidus (Fr.) Fr., were used in the fluorescent antibody technique for identification of these fungi on their corresponding mycorrhizal structures. Whole sporocarps were used for antibody preparation in rabbits. An array of cross reacting antibodies resulted which could not be used for absolute identification of the specific fungi. The fluorochrome dyes fluorescein and rhodamine in combination were successful to differentiate plant from fungus tissue in fresh ectomycorrhizae specimens.
Recommended Citation
Richter, Dana L., "Investigation of Ectomycorrhizae of Populus Tremuloides in Native Woodlands" (1983). Culminating Projects in Biology. 77.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/biol_etds/77
