Mycorrhizal habit of Casuarina cunninghamiana and C. glauca in Central Morroco

A survey of the mycorrhizal status of Casuarina cunninghamiana and C. glauca plantations has been undertaken in Central Morocco. Fine roots of both species have been collected in 14 plantations located between Rabat and Fès, Rabat and Larache and in the city of Rabat and also on saplings in two forest nurseries in Fès and Larache. The microscopic examination of Trypan blue stained root fragments allowed to evidence the systematic occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal infections. Infection frequency and intensity varied between sites. The examination of soil spores contents revealed the presence of at least four genera of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora and Scutellospora in a high number of species. There was no evidence of any ectomycorrhizal structures within all the collected root samples. The survey allowed to collect a number of sporophores under both tree species. The ectomycorrhizal status of these sporophores remained doubtful. (Texte intégral