Intracellular infection by fungi in mycorrhizae of damaged spruce trees

Abstract

Abstract Intracellular infection was found in the vascular tissue and meristem of mycorrhizae of a severely damaged stand of spruce and fir trees in the Northern Black Forest. Two fungal species could be isolated from surface sterilized mycorrhizae: Mycelium radicis atrovirens and Cryptosporiopsis cf. abietina . Infection tests with spruce seedlings revealed that mainly Cryptosporiopsis cf. abietina must be held responsible for infection of the vascular tissue. Less infectious was Mycelium radicis atrovirens , which infected only cortex cells.