Colonization, isolation, and cultural descriptions of Thelephora terrestris and other ectomycorrhizal fungi of shortleaf pine seedlings grown in fumigated soil

Nineteen fungal symbionts were isolated from ectomycorrhizae of 7- to 9-month-old shortleaf pine seedlings grown in heavily fumigated soil in a greenhouse. Cultural and chemical characterization revealed five distinct cultural groups. One symbiont group was culturally identical with isolates of Thelephora terrestris, a primary symbiont colonizer of fumigated soil. The other four groups of ectomycorrhizal fungi belonged to different species. Numerous surface sterilants were tested in attempts to isolate symbionts, but only mercuric chloride (100 p.p.m.) and copper sulfate (2.5 and 5%) were effective.