Absence of Conidia as a Morphological Character in Ectomycorrhizal Fungi

ABSTRACT

An examination of 169 isolates of ectomycorrhizal fungi representing 96 species from 30 different genera revealed the absence of conidial anamorphs in vitro. Such findings confirm previous investigations by other researchers but some reports of conidial anamorphs exist. These anomalies are reinterpreted and attributed either to contaminants, saprobic species misidentified as ectomycorrhizal, or non-conidial structures misinterpreted as conidia. Conidial anamorphs may have been selected against in ectomycorrhizal fungi in favor of the basidiospore for dissemination and infection.

Key Words:

• conidial anamorphs
• ectomycorrhizae
• Agaricales
• cultures