Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Population structure and mycelial phenotypic variability of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mycorrhiza Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mating type allele distribution and phenotypic variability were investigated in field populations of Laccaria bicolor. Sporophores associated with Norway spruce (Picea abies), colonized by natural sources of inoculum and growing in a seed orchard, were sampled to obtain dikaryotic strains and assay their phenotypic variability for traits important to the symbiosis. Basid-iospores were also collected for mating type analysis of different mycelia. Four sporophore mating types were identified containing seven A and five B factors. Out-breeding efficiency was estimated at 73.8% and the population was slightly inbred. Crosses with previously characterized L. bicolor strains from two nearby populations identified in total six sporophore mating types and ten A and nine B factors, for an estimated outbreeding efficiency (85.7%) similar to previous studies of more spatially disparate Laccaria spp. populations. Dikaryotic strains were tested for mycelial growth rate, as a measure of their competitive ability, on agar media containing a soluble (NaH2PO4), or an insoluble (CaHPO4) phosphate source. Their ability to solubilize the latter was also tested to assess their relative capacity to access insoluble, inorganic phosphate. In most cases, significant variation was detected among strains from the same site for all variables. On three sites (VC4, VC5 and VC7), each determined previously to possess a uniform mycelial genotype, phenotypic variability was likely due to epigenetic variation among different strains of the same genotype. Possible evidence for dikaryon-monokaryon crosses was observed in vivo on one sample site (VC2) where adjacent mycelia shared two mating factors. The phenotypic variability of different mycelial genotypes reflected their genetic variability observed as mating type allele diversity and underlined the importance of basidiospore dispersal in introducing new genotypes into the population. The reproductive strategies of L. bicolor are discussed and compared to those of other basidiomycete species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agerer R (1991) Ectomycorrhizae of Sarcodon imbricatus on Norway spruce and their chlamydospores. Mycorrhiza 1:21–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Baar J, Ozinga WA, Kuyper TW (1994) Spatial distribution of Laccaria bicolor genets reflected by sporocarps after removal of litter and humus layers in a Pinus sylvestris forest. Mycol Res 98:726–728

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett EM, Lewis DH (1973) Surface phosphatase activity of mycorrhizal roots of beech. Soil Biol Biochem 5:249–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastide PY de la, Kropp BR, Piché Y (1994) Spatial distribution and temporal persistence of discrete genotypes of the ectomycprrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton. New Phytol 127:547–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (1986) Forest nutrition management. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Boidin J (1986) Intercompatibility and the species concept in the saprobic Basidiomycotina. Mycotaxon 26:319–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady NC (1974) The nature and properties of soils, 8th edn. MacMillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Brasier CM (1987) The dynamics of fungal speciation. In: Rayner ADM, Brasier CM, Moore D (eds) Evolutionary biology of the fungi. (Symposium of the British Mycological Society, University of Bristol, April 1986) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 231–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller AHR (1958) The effect of diploid on haploid mycelia in Coprinus lagopus, and the biological significance of conjugate nuclei in the Hymenomycetes and other higher fungi. (Researches on fungi, vol IV) Hafner, New York, pp 187–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett JH (1975) Mycogenetics. Wiley, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlile MJ (1987) Genetic exchange and gene flow: their promotion and prevention. In: Rayner ADM, Brasier CM, Moore D (eds) Evolutionary biology of the fungi. (Symposium of the British Mycological Society, University of Bristol, April 1986) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 203–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Caten CE (1987) The genetic integration of fungal life styles. In: Rayner ADM, Brasier CM, Moore D (eds) Evolutionary biology of the fungi. (Symposium of the British Mycological Society, University of Bristol, April 1986) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 215–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase TE, Ullrich RC (1990a) Genetic basis of biological species in Heterobasidium annosum: Mendelian determinants. Mycologia 82:67–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase TE, Ullrich RC (1990b) Five genes determining intersterility in Heterobasidium annosum. Mycologia 82:73–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Cromack K Jr, Sollins P, Graustein WC, Speidel K, Todd AW, Spycher G, Li CY, Todd RL (1979) Calcium oxalate accumulation and soil weathering in mats of the hypogeous fungus Hysterangium crassum. Soil Biol Biochem 11:463–468

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg A, Stenlid J (1990) Population structure and dynamics in Suillus bovinus as indicated by spatial distribution of fungal clones. New Phytol 115:487–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Deacon JW, Fleming LV (1992) Interactions of ectomycorrhizal fungi. In: Allen MF (ed) Mycorrhizal functioning: an integrative plant-fungal process. Routledge, Chapman and Hall, New York, pp 249–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Doudrick RL, Anderson NA (1989) Incompatibility factors and mating competence of two Laccaria spp. (Agaricales) associated with black spruce in northern Minnesota. Phytopathology 79:694–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Doudrick RL, Furnier GR, Anderson NA (1990) The number and distribution of incompatibility alleles in Laccaria laccata var. muelleri (Agaricales). Phytopathology 80:869–872

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowson CG, Rayner ADM, Boddy L (1989) Spatial dynamics and interactions of the woodland fairy ring fungus, Clitocybe nebularis. New Phytol 111:699–705

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogel R (1981) Quantification of sporocarp production by hypogeous fungi. In: Wicklow DT, Carroll GC (eds) The fungal community, its organization and role in the ecosystem. Dekker, New York Basel, pp 553–568

    Google Scholar 

  • Fries N (1983) Spore germination, homing reaction and intersterility groups in Laccaria laccata (Agaricales). Mycologia 75:221–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Fries N (1987) Somatic incompatibility and field distribution of the ectomycorhizal fungus Suillus luteus (Boletaceae). New Phytol 107:735–739

    Google Scholar 

  • Fries N, Mueller GM (1984) Incompatibility systems, cultural features and species circumscriptions in the ectomycorrhizal genus Laccaria (Agaricales). Mycologia 76:633–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardes M, Wong KKY, Fortin J-A (1990a) Interactions between monokaryotic and dikaryotic isolates of Laccaria bicolor on roots of Pinus banksiana. Symbiosis 8:233–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardes M, Fortin J-A, Mueller GM, Kropp BR (1990b) Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the nuclear ribosomal DNA of four Laccaria spp.: L. bicolor, L. laccata, L. proxima and L. amethystina. Phytopathology 80:1312–1317

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardes M, Mueller GM, Fortin J-A, Kropp BR (1991a) Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in four Laccaria species: L. bicolor, L. laccata, L. proxima and L. amethystina. Mycol Res 95:206–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardes M, White TW, Fortin J-A, Bruns TD, Taylor JW (1991b) Identification of indigenous and introduced symbiotic fungi in ectomycorrhizae by amplification of nuclear and mitochondrial ribosomal DNA. Can J Bot 69:180–190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gates CE, Bilbro JD (1978) Illustration of a cluster analysis method for mean separation. Agron J 70:462–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein AH, Liu ST (1987) Molecular cloning and regulation of a mineral phosphate solubilizing gene from Erwinia herbicola. Biotechnology 5:72–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallenberg N (1991) Speciation and distribution in Corticiaceae (Basidiomycetes). Plant Syst Evol 177:93–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley JL, Smith SE (1983) Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho I (1988) A simple method for assessing acid phosphatase activity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Trans Br Mycol Soc 91:346–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchison LJ (1989) Absence of conidia as a morphological character in ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycologia 81:587–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson KM, Miller OK Jr (1994) Postmeiotic mitosis in the basidia of Suillus granulatus: implications for population structure and dispersal biology. Mycologia 86:511–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson KM, Miller OK Jr, Turner BJ (1993) Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers are superior to somatic incompatibility tests for discriminating genotypes in natural populations of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus granulatus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:9159–9163

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay E, Vilgalys R (1992) Spatial distribution and genetic relationships among individuals in a natural population of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. Mycologia 84:173–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller G (1992) Isozymes in isolates of Suillus species from Pinus cembra L. New Phytol 120:351–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroehler CJ, Antibus RK, Linkins AE (1988) The effects of organic and inorganic phosphorus concentration on the acid phosphatase activity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Can J Bot 66:750–756

    Google Scholar 

  • Kropp BR (1990a) Variation in acid phosphatase activity among progeny from controlled crosses in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. Can J Bot 68:864–866

    Google Scholar 

  • Kropp BR (1990b) Variable interactions between non-mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal strains of the Basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor. Mycol Res 94:412–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Kropp BR, Fortin J-A (1988) The incompatibility system and relative ectomycorrhizal performance of monokaryons and reconstituted dikaryons of Laccaria bicolor. Can J Bot 66:289–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Kropp BR, Langlois C-G (1990) Ectomycorrhizae in reforestation. Can J For Res 20:438–451

    Google Scholar 

  • Kropp BR, McAfee BJ, Fortin J-A (1987) Variable loss of ectomycorrhizal ability in monokaryotic and dikaryotic cultures of Laccaria bicolor. Can J Bot 65:500–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapeyrie F, Chilvers GA, Behm CA (1987) Oxalic acid synthesis by the mycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus. New Phytol 106:139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Last FT, Dighton J, Mason PA (1987) Successions of sheathing mycorrhizal fungi. Tree 2:157–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Mallett KI, Harrison LM (1988) The mating system of the fairy ring fungus Marasmius oreades and the genetic relationship of fairy rings. Can J Bot 66:1111–1116

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx DH (1969) The influence of ectotrophic mycorrhizal fungi on the resistence of pine roots to pathogenic infections. I. Antagonism of mycorrhizal fungi to root pathogenic fungi and soil bacteria. Phytopathology 59:153–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Molina R, Massicotte H, Trappe JM (1992) Specificity phenomena in mycorrhizal symbioses: community-ecological consequences and practical implications. In: Allen MF (ed) Mycorrhizal functioning: an integrative plant-fungal process. Routledge, Chapman and Hall, New York, pp 357–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller GM, Gardes M (1991) Intraand interspecific relations within Laccaria bicolor sensu lato. Mycol Res 95:592–601

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasmyth K (1983) Molecular analysis of a cell lineage. Nature 302:670–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Raper JR, Krongelb GS, Baxter MG (1958) The number and distribution of incompatibility factors in Schizophyllum. Am Nat 92:221–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayner ADM (1991) The challenge of the individualistic mycelium. Mycologia 83:48–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayner ADM, Todd NK (1982a) Ecological genetics of Basidiomycete populations in decaying wood. In: Frankland JC, Hedger JN, Swift MJ (eds) Decomposer Basidiomycetes: their biology and ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 129–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayner ADM, Todd NK (1982b) Population structure in wooddecomposing Basidiomycetes. In: Frankland JC, Hedger JN, Swift MJ (eds) Decomposer Basidiomycetes: their biology and ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 109–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Read DJ (1992) The mycorrhizal mycelium. In: Allen MF (ed) Mycorrhizal functioning: an integrative plant-fungal process. Routledge, Chapman and Hall, New York, pp 102–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott AJ, Knott M (1974) A cluster analysis method for grouping means in the analysis of variance. Biometrics 30:507–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen R (1990) Intraspecific variation in two species of Suillus from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests based on somatic incompatibility and isozyme analysis. New Phytol 114:607–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith ML, Bruhn NB, Anderson JB (1992) The fungus Armillaria bulbosa is among the largest and oldest living organisms. Nature 356:428–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenlid J (1985) Population structure of Heterobasidion annosum as determined by somatic incompatibility, sexual incompatibility and isoenzymatic patterns. Can J Bot 63:2268–2273

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson FJ (1986) Cycles of soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, micronutrients. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullrich RC, Novotny CP, Specht CA (1985) Nucleic acid studies in Schizophyllum. In: Moore D, Casselton LA, Wood DA, Frankland JC (eds) Developmental biology of the higher fungi. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 467–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Villeneuve N, Grandtner MM, Fortin J-A (1989) Frequency and diversity of ectomycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi in the Laurentide mountains of Quebec. Can J Bot 67:2616–2629

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt KA, Publicover DA, Vogt DJ (1991) A critique of the role of ectomycorrhizas in forest ecology. Agric Ecosyst Environ 35:171–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong KKY, Piché Y, Montpetit D, Kropp BR (1989) Differences in the colonization of Pinus banksiana roots by sib-monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains of ectomycorrhizal Laccaria bicolor. Can J Bot 67:1717–1726

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu H, Higginbotham KO, Dancik BP, Navratil S (1988) Intraspecific genetic variability of isozymes in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus tomentosus. Can J Bot 66:588–594

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Paul Y. de la Bastide

    Present address: Department of Botany, Erindale Campus,University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road N., L5L 1C6, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Université Lavai, Centre de Recherche en Biologie Forestière, 7P4, Québec, G1K, Canada

    Paul Y. de la Bastide & Yves Piché

  2. Department of Biology, Utah State University, 84322-5305, Logan, UT, USA

    Bradley R. Kropp

Authors
  1. Paul Y. de la Bastide
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bradley R. Kropp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yves Piché
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de la Bastide, P.Y., Kropp, B.R. & Piché, Y. Population structure and mycelial phenotypic variability of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton. Mycorrhiza 5, 371–379 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207409

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207409

Key words

Search

Navigation