PRESENCE OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE IN EUCALYPTUS SPP AND ACACIA SP AND THEIR ABSENCE IN BANKSIA SP AFTER INOCULATION WITH GLOMUS-FASCICULATUS

Vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizae occurred in seedlings of E. marginata, E. diversicolor and A. pulchella grown in soil inoculated with G. fasciculatus. Infection levels were 30-35% of the root length of the eucalypts and 50-70% of the Acacia. When A. pulchella was grown in the same pots with the 2 eucalypts, its infection was not increased. B. grandis did not form VA mycorrhizae when grown alone or in association with A. pulchella. These results are discussed in relation to the evolution of plants in Australia and the ecological significance of VA mycorrhizae in the eucalypt forest ecosystem.