Survival of Suillus pungens and Amanita francheti
ectomycorrhizal genets was rare or absent after a stand-replacing
wildfire
Tom Bruns1,
Jenny Tan1,
Martin Bidartondo1,
Tim Szaro1 and
Dirk Redecker2
1
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 111 Koshland Hall,
University of California, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
2
Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 1,
CH-4056 Basel Switzerland
Abstract
We looked for evidence of mycelial survival by Suillus pungens and Amanita francheti following a stand-replacing wildfire. These species were selected because we had previously mapped and genotyped their fruiting bodies in the pre-fire forest.
Mycelial survival was investigated in two ways. First, we sampled seedlings in areas where these species had fruited abundantly before the fire, and second, we collected and genotyped mushrooms of S. pungens.
Neither species was detected on seedlings within the areas sampled, and A. francheti was not detected in any above- or below-ground samples after the fire. Genetic evidence from S. pungens revealed that post-fire genets were small and numerous, and none were found to be identical to the genets sampled prior to the fire.
From these results we conclude that A. francheti was not a common survivor or an early colonist of the post-fire forest, and that spores are the primary means by which S. pungens recolonized. If mycelial survival occurred in either species, it must have been relatively rare.
[view] reprint (PDF) version of this article
Return to Bidartondo home page.
Return to Bruns home page.
Return to Redecker home page.
Return to Szaro home page.
Return to Tan home page.
Return to Bruns Lab home page.