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Mycorrhizal symbionts of Pisonia grandis and P. sechellarum in Seychelles: identification of mycorrhizal fungi and description of new Tomentella species.

     ¹ Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu, Vanemuise street, 46, Tartu, Tartumaa, 51014, Estonia
² University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Tartumaa, Estonia
³ University of Tartu, Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
⁴ Plant Conservation Action Group, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
⁵ University Museum of Zoology Cambridge, Cambridge, -, United Kingdom
⁶ Institute of Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu, Estonia, Estonia

Abstract: Nyctaginaceae includes species that are predominantly non-mycorrhizal or form arbuscular or ectomycorrhiza. Root-associated fungi were studied from P. grandis and P. sechellarum roots collected in the islands of Cousin and Silhouette in Seychelles, respectively. In addition fungal sporocarps were collected from the sampling area. Fungal symbionts were identified from the roots by anatomotyping and rDNA sequencing; sporocarps collected were studied under the microscope and sequenced. Three distantly related ectomycorrhizal fungal species belonging to Thelephoraceae were identified from the roots of P. grandis. For two symbionts, sporocarps were also found and described as new Tomentella species. In addition, Tomentella species collected from other islands of Seychelles were studied and described as new species if there was no close resemblance to previously established species. Pisonia sechellarum was determined to be an arbuscular mycorrhizal plant; three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species were revealed from the roots. Pisonia grandis is probably associated only with species of Thelephoraceae throughout its area. Only five different Tomentella species are known to form ectomycorrhiza with P. grandis and they have never been found to be associated with another host, suggesting adaptation of these fungi to extreme environmental conditions prevailing in the host's habitat.

Key words: Nyctaginaceae, Thelephoraceae, ectomycorrhiza, arbuscular mycorrhiza, host specificity