Mycorrhizal fungi in Pinus ponderosa introduced in Central Patagonia (Argentina)

A study to survey the ectomycorrhizal fungi found in ponderosa pine plantations and bare-root nurseries in Central Patagonia (Argentina) was conducted. Fourteen plantations and eight nurseries were sampled for hypogeous and epigeous fungi for three years. Rhizopogon ellenae, Tricholoma muricatum, Cortinarius sp. subg. Telamonia and Radiigera sp. were found exclusively in plantations. Laccaria tortilis, Hebeloma hiemale, Scleroderma areolatum, Inocybe kauffmanii, Scleroderma fuscum, Thelephora terrestris, Rhizopogon subolivascens, Amanita sp. and Tuber sp. were found exclusively in nurseries. Hebeloma mesophaeum, Rhizopogon roseolus, Suillus luteus, Tomentella atramentaria and Amphinema byssoides were found in nurseries and plantations. Overall, eighteen ectomycorrhizal species were found in association with ponderosa pine plantations and nurseries. The most widely distributed species were Amphinema byssoides, Hebeloma mesophaeum, Suillus luteus and Rhizopogon roseolus in plantations, and R. roseolus and H. mesophaeum in nurseries. Because of their wide distribution and abundance in plantations and their relative abundant spore concentration, Rhizopogon roseolus, Suillus luteus and Hebeloma mesophaeum are potential candidates that could be used in mycorrhizal inoculation programs for ponderosa pine in forest nurseries.