ERICOID ENDOPHYTES OF WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN HEATHS (EPACRIDACEAE)

The presence of ericoid endophytes was confirmed in hair roots of 14 species of Epacridaceae native to the mediterranean south-west of Western Australia. The phenology of infection was followed in 2-yr-old seedlings of Astroloma xerophyllum D.C. (Send.) and showed increasing infection up to a peak (40% of hair roots infected) in late winter and a decline to zero infection during summer (December-February). Over 400 isolates of root-inhabiting fungi of 14 species from seven genera of native Epacridaceae were obtained. All isolates were dark-coloured, sterile and slow growing on potato dextrose agar. Based on morphological characteristics, eight isolates were selected for further investigation, Detailed analysis of morphological and cultural features was used to create three groups, two of which were infective with cuttings of the common Epacridaceae species, Lysinema ciliatum. The groupings based on morphological characteristics were reflected in the pectic zymogram patterns of the isolates. Pectic zymogram analysis of ericoid fungi revealed that none of the Australian isolates matched fungi known to be infective with Ericaceae [Hymenoscyphus ericae (Read) Korf. and Kernen and Oidiodendron spp.] even though all isolates appeared morphologically similar with similar growth rates.