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Pure culture mycorrhizal synthesis of Cistaceae with desert
truffles in the genera Terfezia and Tirmania
Poster or talk- Monday (3) Mycorrhizae in Stressed Ecosystems
or Tuesday (4) Biodiversity and Ecology
ALSHEIKH, ABDULMAGID
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O.B. 24885,
Safat 13109, Kuwait
ICOM1 Abstract
Desert truffles, Terfezia and Tirmania species, are collected
from sites where the annual and perennial Helianthemum and
other plants in the family Cistaceae are abundant in north
Africa and southwest Asia. The mycorrhizal relationship
between Cistaceae and Terfezia and Tirmania spp. has been
suggested and realized for some species. In this study two
annual Cistaceae, H. ledifolium and H. salicifolium, and four
perennials, H. kahiricum, H. lippii (from Kuwait desert),
Cistus albidus and Fumana procumbens (from southern Europe)
were used. Mycelial cultures from spores of Terfezia
boudieri, T. claveryi, Tirmania nivea and T. pinoyi
germinated in vitro served as inoculum. Although the roots
were surrounded by profuse septate hyphae, penetration and
colonization of rootlet cells did not always occur. When
colonization did occur, hyphae either penetrated cortical
cells with intercellular branching and grew randomly within
the cells or formed beginnings of a loose mantle as in F.
procumbens. Colonized rootlets were thicker and darker than
nonmycorrhizal ones. This work suggests that desert truffles
survive during unfavorable weather conditions by forming
mycorrhizae with some perennial hosts. Mycelial cultures of
desert truffles can possibly be used as inocula for perennial
species in desert habitats to help increase rangeland
productivity, shelter belt projects, and ornamental planting.
The success in germinating dried Terfezia and Tirmania spp.
spores suggests experiments with dried specimens of other
truffles.