Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae of epiphytes

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00203242
• Publication Date: 2004-08-31T02:22:26Z
• Authors: David P. Janos
• Keywords: Epiphyte; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Arbuscular mycorrhiza

This article introduces reports concerning the occurrence of mycorrhizae on epiphytes in Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Malaysia, and Mexico. Association of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with the roots of epiphytes is not well known. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM) do occur in the canopy, but are uncommon except in certain sites and host taxa. Occurrence of VAM on epiphytes may be constrained by mineral nutrient availability and spatial heterogeneity in the canopy. Nevertheless, epiphytes present unique opportunities to study influences of mycorrhizae on vascular plant community composition and on the evolution of mycorrhizal associations.