CHARACTERISATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAE OF <em>RUSSULA</em> (RUSSULACEAE: BASIDIOMYCOTA) ASSOCIATED WITH <em>SHOREA</em> <em>ROBUSTA</em>

Abstract

The tropical moist deciduous forests of India are largely dominated by the dipterocarp tree Shorea robusta (also known as sal). Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi form symbiotic association with sal trees and play an important role in the stability of the sal forests. A study was carried out to determine the occurrence and distribution of ECM fungi in tropical sal forests at the Shiwalik mountain range, north-west India. The genus Russula was the dominant fungi. In this paper the morphoanatomical details of mycorrhizal roots of S. robusta associated with three Russula species, namely, R. cremeoavallanea, R. romagnesiana and R. nigricans were investigated for the first time. The ECM colonised roots were distinguished by differences in the shape and colour of mycorrhizal system, surface texture, shape and size of cystidia, cell shape of mantle, as well as the differing chemical reactions. ECM roots of sal associated with R. cremeoavallanea were mostly greyish brown and have almost plectenchymatous outer mantle layers having subcylindrical to awl-shaped cystidia. Ectomycorrhizal roots of R. romagnesiana were reddish brown with silvery patches, and have purely plectenchymatous outer mantle layers having obpyriform to obclavate cystidia. Russula nigricans-associated ectomycorrhizal roots have greyish brown to black mycorrhizal system and have almost pseudoparenchymatous dark brown mantle with capitate cystidial elements.