Mycorrhizae in a southern California desert: ecological implications

Abstract

Perennial plants of 19 families were surveyed for colonization by vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi at four sites in the Anza–Borrego Desert State Park, California, an area characterized as arid to extremely arid. Soils at all sites were very low in phosphorus and nitrogen and had a coarse sandy texture. The sites were distinct in the floristic composition of their vegetation. All plants (38 species) were colonized by VAM fungi (six species). The distribution of the VAM mycoflora was not random. Site preference by VAM-fungal species was ascribed to an interaction of factors pertaining to the host plants and to edaphic and climatic conditions.