Mycorrhizal Syntheses with Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd.

Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd., an alder species endemic to eastern North America, was investigated for its ability to form ectomycorrhizae with six species of fungi in vitro. Only Hebeloma cf. crustuliniforme and Paxillus involutus formed mycorrhizal sheaths with hartig nets. These two species are associated with Alnus in nature. Two other associated fungi, Alpova diplophloeus and Paxillus filamentosus, did not form ectomycorrhizae vitro. Two broad host range fungi, Cenococcum geophilum and Pisolithus tinctorius, not form ectomycorrhizae with A. serrulata. These results support the hypothesis that genus Alnus is highly specific in its mycorrhizal