ICOM1 Abstract

BROWN, DARYL1 & NICK MALAJCZUK2. 1 Department of Agricultural Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS. 7001, Australia. 2 Division of Forestry and Forest Products, CSIRO, Wembley, WA.. 6014. Australia. - A survey of mycorrhizal fungi growing in association with hazel (Corylus avellana) in Tasmania, Australia. Hazelnut trees (Corylus avellana) inoculated with the French Black Truffle (Tuber melanosporum) are being planted in Tasmania, Australia. The factors most likely to influence the production of the French Black Truffles in Tasmania are soil properties and competing fungi. Tuber melanosporum inhabits calcareous soils. Such soils are not common in Tasmania, and consequently, slightly acidic soils have been heavily limed in an attempt to create a suitable environment. Tasmania has a great diversity of indigenous ectomycorrhizal fungi, which have evolved in association with eucalypts and other native flora. Many of these genera were believed to be host specific to their hosts and hence, possibly would not pose a threat to the establishment of a Black Truffle industry in Tasmania. To determine whether this was the case, a fungal fruiting survey was conducted over three years to determine which ectomycorrhizal fungi are forming relationships with uninoculated hazel trees, previously planted in Tasmania. The majority of fungi collected were northern hemisphere species probably introduced to Australia on the roots of these hazels or other northern hemisphere tree species. Australian mycorrhizal fungi including Descomyces and Hydnangium were found to form mycorrhizal relationships with Corylus avellana but were shown to be poor competitors when the pH of the soil was raised with the addition of lime.