Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Salt Marshes in North Carolina

The primary objective of this research was to determine if vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi are associated with the roots of common plant species found in North Carolina salt marshes. Root samples of Spartina alterniflora, S. patens, S. cynosuroides, Distichlis spicata, and Juncus roemerianus were collected from eight salt marsh sites. With the exception of S. alterniflora, all plant species were mycorrhizal. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine whether unfavorable soil conditions or inherent resistance by the plant inhibited development of mycorrhizal infection in field-collected S. alterniflora. Spartina alterniflora and S. patens were grown from seeds in soil collected from a pure stand of S. alterniflora (soil A) or a mixed stand of S. patens and D. spicata (soil P). Seedlings were harvested weekly for 8 wk, and roots were evaluated for infection by mycorrhizal fungi. Seedlings of S. patens were infected when grown for 2 wk in either soil A or soil P, indicating that soil collected from stands of S. alterniflora did not inhibit mycorrhizal infection in a susceptible host. Percent root length infected in S. patens was always greater in soil P than in soil A. Seedlings of S. alterniflora were not infected by mycorrhizal fungi in either soil A or soil P. Results of the greenhouse study indicate that S. alterniflora may be resistant to infection by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.