CAIRNEY, JWG, CHAMBERS SM, LIU G. & WILLIAMS A.
Mycorrhiza Research Group, School of Science, University of Western Sydney (Nepean), PO Box 10, Kingswood, NSW 2747, AUSTRALIA.
Mycorrhizal endophytes were isolated from Woollsia pungens, Epacris microphylla and Dracophyllum secundum (Epacridaceae). Some of the isolated endophytes had morphological characteristics broadly similar to those of sterile endophytic mycelia isolated from other Epacridaceae and Ericaceae. Microsatellite-primed PCR, ITS-RFLP and ITS sequence analyses were used to determine genetic diversity within the populations of isolated endophytes. Microsatellite-primed PCR fingerprints using the primers (GTG)5 and (GACA)4 indicated that 43 genetically-distinct mycelial genets were present within the mycelial population from four W. pungens plants. Sequence data revealed that six different taxa were present and that four of these species were present in the root system of one plant. Sequence data obtained for some isolates from D. secundum and E. microphylla indicate similarities and dissimilarities in the isolated endophyte populations from roots of different epacrid species. None of the isolates were identified as Hymenoscyphus ericae. The results obtained indicate that there is great diversity within the endophyte population associated with epacrids in southeastern Australia and will be discussed in relation to potential habitat- and host-related differences in the endophyte populations.