ICOM1 Abstract
: sessions in order of preference are 7, 5, 4.
COLLINS, R.A.1, M.R. ALDERTON1, C. MCLEAN2 AND A.C. LAWRIE1. 1Department
of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, RMIT, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, Vic.
3001, Australia, 2Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture,
Burnley College, University of Melbourne, Burnley Gardens, Swan St,
Richmond, Vic. 3121, Australia. - Use of antibodies to differentiate
among root endophytes of Epacridaceae and Ericaceae
The aim of this study was to develop a serological method for
differentiating among hyphae in and on roots of species of the
Epacridaceae. Polyclonal antisera were prepared in BALB/c mice and
binding to fungi detected microscopically using fluorescence. A
polyclonal antiserum to pelotons from 'typical' ericoid endophytes of
Epacris impressa showed strong immunofluorescence with both hyphae and
pelotons in fresh roots, but not with some external hyphae, uninfected
roots or cultures of Hymenoscyphus ericae or Oidiodendron griseum
isolated from species of the Ericaceae. A polyclonal antiserum to H.
ericae reacted strongly with H. ericae cultures, external hyphae and
pelotons from 'typical' ericoid mycorrhizal roots, and weakly with O.
griseum, suggesting some similarity. Neither antiserum gave any
reaction with the morphologically different internal hyphae in roots of
epacrids in the Grampians, Victoria. This evidence suggests that more
than one type of fungus infects these epacrids, that these fungi are
different from those tested which infect the Ericaceae and that
antibodies can be used to differentiate among root endophytes of the
Ericales.