Mycorrhizal Endogone Species

Abstract

The genus Endogone has been amended to include nonsporocarpic types. One new species, E. mosseae, with both endocarpic and ectocarpic chlamydospores, and two new varieties with only ectocarpic chlamydospores, E. macrocarpa var. calendonia and E. macrocarpa var. geospora, are described. Three new species that form only ectocarpic zygospores or azygospores, E. heterogama, E. gigantea and E. calospora, are described. The spores formed by these species have one large suspensor with a much smaller suspensor-like structure projecting from it to the spore. The zygosporic species also produce vesicles on coiled hyphae in soil surrounding plant roots. The three zygosporic species are distinctly different from any previously described species of Endogone. All of the species and varieties form endotrophic mycorrhizae.