Bulbs/alpine perennials and mycorrhiza/rhizobia interrelationships

[anita]

Does anybody know of any work done on bulbs/alpine perennials and beneficial relationships with mycorrhiza/rhizobia?
I was wondering about this because I am aware that a number of Australian natives and South African proteacea, that live in harsh, impoverished soils have evolved relationships with various soil fungi/bacteria that help them extract more nutrients from the soil.
While these relationships are generally assumed to exist only amongst larger shrubs there are a number of Australian terrestrial orchid species that benefit from such a relationship, Caladenia and associated genera such as Glossodia and even Diuris (http://www.jstor.org/pss/2431050).
A web search turned up some US trials of inoculation of onions and garlic that appeared to have positive results on growth and yields http://www.springerlink.com/content/y28lg6793a6e6d9d/ and http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=631_34.
Given that alpine perennials and bulbs live in fairly hostile environments, where soils can be impoverished I was wondering if anybody has any information on whether such relationships might exist?
If they do it might explain why bulbs/perennials grown in identical conditions sometimes vary so greatly in their performance.
Thanks  Anita

[David Lyttle]

Hi Anita,

There are two main sorts of mycorrhizal associations ectomycorrhizal where the fungus forms a net of mycelium that surrounds but does not penetrate the root and endomycorrhizal where the fungus penetrates into the root and forms specialised structure called arbuscules (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi AMF). Many common mushroom are the fruiting bodies of ectomycorrhizal fungi. eg Amanita muscaria. Endomycorrhizal fungi do not form fruiting bodies but reproduce by spores which are found in the soil in large numbers.
Here is a link that you might find useful http://mycorrhizas.info/index.html

[iann]

AMF have been shown to be common in some cacti and are assumed to exist in many more.

[anita]

David,

Thanks for that useful web reference. It was quite technical and it took me a while to wade through however my synopsis is that mycorrhizal relationships are very widespread but unlikely in conditions where there is snow annually. Unfortunately it seems that there haven't been many studies on liliacae or iridacae. I guess I'm still wondering if there are potential relationships in species such as fritillaries which may explain why some people get them to thrive and others with apparently similar conditions fail.
Regards Anita