Mycorrhizal Associations of Plant-Species in a Semiarid Community

Of 93 species in 37 families occurring in a semiarid open mallee community near Murray Bridge, South Australia, 85 species were mycorrhizal. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) were more common than other types of mycorrhizas observed. Genera not previously known to form ectomycorrhizas include Astroloma (Epacridaceae), Comesperma (Polygalaceae), Thysanotus (Asphodelaceae: Liliflorae), Baeckea and Calytrix (Myrtaceae), Dampiera (Goodeniaceae), Podotheca and Toxanthes (Inulae: Asteraceae). Many species were found with both ectomycorrhizas and VAM, with annuals having both VAM and ectomycorrhizas for the whole growing season and perennials usually exhibiting either a predominantly VAM or ectomycorrhizal association. Vesicles were present in plant species not commonly thought of as mycorrhizal hosts.