Ectomycorrhizal fungi of Pinus pinea L. in northeastern Spain

Although Pinus pinea L. is an important forest species in the Mediterranean region, few reports exist on its ectomycorrhizal associates. Sixty isolates, obtained from fungal sporocarps collected in mixed forests of P. pinea in Catalonia (northeastern Spain), were tested for ectomycorrhiza formation on containerized P. pinea seedlings when applied as mycelial inoculum produced in peat-vermiculite, A total of 17 isolates, in 8 genera (Amanita, Hebeloma, Laccaria, Lactarius, Pisolithus, Rhizopogon, Scleroderma and Suillus), formed ectomycorrhizas and the percentages of mycorrhizal short rests varied among isolates and species from 13% to 89%, Some of these fungi are cited for the first time in association with P. pinea. The results indicate further fungal candidates for controlled inoculation of P. pinea seedlings in the nursery.