Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria stimulate ectomycorrhizal symbiosis of <i>Acacia holosericea</i> with <i>Pisolithus alba</i>

Abstract

Summary The influence of two fluorescent pseudomonads strains (HR13 and HR26) on the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between Pisolithus alba and Acacia holosericea is reported here. We measured ectomycorrhizal establishment, fungal growth in the soil (by HPLC) and soil microbial biomass (using the fumigation–extraction method) in treatments with or without pseudomonads. Bacteria inoculated with the fungal symbiont stimulated ectomycorrhizal formation and shoot or root biomass. Only HR13 significantly increased fungal biomass in the soil. The bacteria stimulated fungal growth and production of phenolic compounds. Sequence analysis of the two fluorescent Pseudomonas revealed 99% homologuey between HR13 and P . monteilii , and 98% between HR26 and P . resinovorans . It is clear that some bacteria (Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria) can stimulate the establishment of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in tropical conditions.