胶膜菌属真菌与兰科植物的共生体系建立

为建立兰科植物与菌根真菌的共生体系,本研究筛选出适宜的共生培养基,采用ITS-rDNA分析鉴定了6株菌根真菌,并将6株菌与兰科植物共生培养,利用台盼蓝染色法检验共生体是否建立。结果表明,2.5 g·L~(-1)燕麦琼脂培养基为树兰和胶膜菌属真菌共生的最适宜培养基,供试兰科植物中仅树兰可与6株胶膜菌属真菌共生,其中一株美孢胶膜菌(Tco 2)促进树兰种子萌发和原球茎发育的效果最好。本研究筛选出可促进树兰高效萌发成苗的共生真菌和培养基,为真菌与植物共生关系研究提供了良好的试验系统,为树兰的生产繁殖奠定了基础,对保护兰科植物物种资源具有重要意义。     

菌根真菌对60Co-γ辐射后铁皮石斛种子萌发的影响

为了解⁶⁰Co-γ射线对铁皮石斛种子萌发和幼苗形成产生的辐射效应，以及胶膜菌属(Tulasnella)菌根真菌对辐射后铁皮石斛种子萌发的影响，本研究采用不同梯度剂量(20～120 Gy)⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射处理铁皮石斛种子，对辐射种子分别进行非共生萌发[1/2MS、燕麦培养基(OMA)]、菌根真菌共生萌发(OMA接种菌株JL4、JL2)培养，比较分析非共生和共生培养方法对辐射种子萌发率和成苗率的影响，观察幼苗表型变化。结果表明，在非共生萌发(1/2MS)条件下，铁皮石斛种子半致死剂量为62 Gy，在与不同胶膜菌属菌株共生萌发后，半致死剂量为69 Gy(JL2)和63 Gy(JL4)。种子萌发率随辐射剂量的增高而降低，低剂量(20 Gy)处理加速了幼苗形成，高剂量处理(90、120 Gy)抑制了幼苗形成；培养115 d后，20 Gy处理成苗率较对照显著提高，分别达到18.26%(1/2MS)、15.00%(JL2)和17.86%(JL4)；高剂量(90、120 Gy)处理种子在共生萌发条件下可获得表型变化更明显的幼苗，具体表现为幼苗高长、假鳞茎...     

兰科植物菌根真菌对种子萌发苗木生长的影响研究

兰科植物是一种非常具有经济和科研价值的植物资源,同样也是一种观赏性很强的植物。目前,野生兰科植物的种类和数量正在急剧减少,而在自然状态下,兰科植物需与菌根真菌建立共生关系才能够生存。19世纪中期起,人们对菌根的研究不断深化,研究表明,大多数植物都有菌根,菌根对植物的生长发育起着至关重要的作用,许多兰科植物没有菌根很难存活,其种子没有菌根的感染和影响就不能正常萌发。因此,对菌根真菌的分析在对兰科植物的研究领域中十分重要。兰科植物菌根真菌在兰科植物的生长发育过程中起着十分重要的作用,进一步了解研究植物菌根真菌的多样性和作用,对兰科植物的保护和培养以及相关产业的发展都有着积极意义。基于此,简要介绍兰科植物菌根真菌,并为其对种子萌发及苗木生长的影响方面进行了总结说明,旨在为研究兰科植物菌根真菌提供有益参考,促进我国生物研究行业的发展。     

多胺对共生条件下丛枝菌根真菌及宿主植物生长发育的影响

为探讨多胺对共生条件下丛枝菌根真菌及其宿主植物生长发育的影响,本研究以丛枝菌根真菌(Gigaspora margarita)为试验材料,通过施用不同浓度的多胺(Polyamine,PA)及其生物合成抑制剂[Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone),MGBG]处理接种丛枝菌根真菌的葡萄微繁苗,研究共生培养条件下外源多胺及多胺合成抑制剂对丛枝菌根真菌孢子萌发、芽管菌丝及其宿主植物生长发育的影响.试验结果表明,共生培养条件下,一定浓度的外源PA对丛枝菌根真菌及其宿主植物的生长发育具显著促进作用,丛枝菌根真菌孢子数、菌丝长度、侵染率、丛枝丰富度及菌根化葡萄幼苗生长势均显著提高.MGBG则表现较强的抑制作用.且该抑制作用可被外源PA部分解除,证明外源多胺对菌根化葡萄微繁苗生长发育的促进作用是通过活化根系土壤中丛枝菌根真菌,促进微繁苗丛枝菌根共生体的良好发育,最大程度地发挥菌根化效应得以表现的.     

烟草与丛枝菌根真菌的共生效应研究进展

丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌是陆地生态系统中广泛存在的一类专性共生土壤微生物,是根系土壤区域中重要的功能菌群之一。AM真菌可侵染植物根系形成丛枝菌根共生体,改变植物根系形态和改善营养状况,从而提高宿主植物的生长发育、产量、质量和抗逆性。目前从烟草根系土壤分离报道的AM真菌已达13属54种,显示出烟草(Nicotiana tobacum L.)栽培的潜在AM真菌资源较为丰富。围绕烟草与AM真菌的共生效应,总结了影响AM真菌侵染和定殖烟草根系的主要因素,阐述了AM真菌对烟草生长、抗性生理及品质的影响,并对PGPR与AM真菌的协同作用进行了简要回顾,最后讨论了该领域存在的不足及今后展望;旨在为菌根技术运用于烟草栽培提供参考。     

基于野外大田试验的接菌紫穗槐生态修复效应研究

[目的]研究接菌紫穗槐对矿区退化植被的恢复生态效应,以期为丛枝菌根真菌应用于西部干旱半干旱煤矿区生态重建提供理论基础和野外试验基础数据。[方法]以紫穗槐为宿主植物,在野外大田条件下研究接种丛枝菌根真菌和紫穗槐的共生状况,以及对煤矿开采沉陷区植物根际土壤的改良作用。[结果]4a的连续监测结果表明,接菌促进了紫穗槐的生长,接菌紫穗槐成活率比对照高30%以上;接菌紫穗槐菌根侵染率和菌丝密度显著高于对照;接种菌根提高了紫穗槐根际土壤有效磷含量且降低了pH值,取得较好的生态修复效应。[结论]在野外大田条件下,接种菌根真菌能够促进植物—菌根共生关系的形成,改善植物—菌根共生体的营养环境。     

玉米丛枝菌根真菌根外菌丝表面定殖细菌解磷功能鉴定

【目的】在田间原位条件下研究丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM)真菌根外菌丝表面有无解磷细菌定殖,并对存在的解磷细菌的种类进行鉴定,对其活化有机磷的能力进行检测,从而为更好地认识菌丝际土壤有机磷的周转和磷的生物地球化学循环过程提供依据。【方法】利用河北省曲周县中国农业大学实验站的玉米长期定位试验,采用田间埋膜方式从玉米根系周围收集AM真菌的根外菌丝,用蒙金娜有机磷固体培养基筛选菌丝表面具有矿化植酸钙能力的细菌,对筛选出的细菌进行分离、 培养,然后提取细菌DNA,通过16S rDNA测序分析来确定解磷细菌的种类。分离鉴定的菌株先用蒙金娜有机磷固体培养基通过测定菌落直径(d)及溶磷圈直径(D)初步鉴定其活化植酸钙的能力,再用无菌的蒙金娜有机磷液体培养基确定每株解磷细菌矿化植酸磷的能力,并对溶液的pH进行测定,每个菌株重复3次。最后采用两室隔网根盒将分离纯化的解磷细菌回接至AM真菌根外菌丝,鉴定回接成功率,确定分离出的解磷细菌能否成功定殖于菌丝表面。【结果】从AM真菌根外菌丝表面分离得到了29株具有活化有机磷能力的细菌,分属于芽胞杆菌、 假单胞菌、 沙雷氏菌、 葡萄球菌和肠杆菌5个不同的属。通过有机磷液体培养进一步检测这些菌株活化植酸磷的能力,发现它们对植酸磷的矿化率为1.9%~21.9%。其中假单胞菌属细菌的解磷能力相对较强,对植酸磷的矿化率达14%以上,液体培养基的pH值下降2~4个单位。将分离纯化的细菌回接至两室隔网根盒的菌丝室,培养30 d后,从菌丝表面再次检测到除假单胞菌属外的芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、 沙雷氏菌属(Serratia)、 葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)和肠杆菌属(Enterobacter)细菌,另外还检测到贪铜菌属(Cupriavidus)细菌。【结论】在田间原位条件下,与玉米共生的AM真菌的根外菌丝表面有多种解磷细菌定殖,它们活化有机磷能力存在差异,其中以假单胞菌属细菌的解磷能力相对较强。     

内外生菌根真菌对重金属的耐受性及机理

本文从内外生菌根真菌对重金属的耐受性和耐受机理,以及将菌根真菌作为重金属污染程度的生物指示剂和重金属生物修复等方面对菌根真菌和重金属的相互作用作了较全面的论述。重金属对生物圈的污染是一个严重的环境和健康问题。某些内外生菌根真菌对重金属具有耐受性。菌根真菌菌丝能与金属相结合而限制它们向菌根植物地上部迁移,从而可达到植物稳定和保护植物免遭重金属毒害的目的。内外生菌根真菌对重金属的耐受性因菌种、重金属种类和浓度、与宿主植物共生与否以及所生长的土壤条件等而异,同时种内菌株之间也有差异。菌根真菌通过离子交换,络合物的形成,沉淀或结晶化作用等方式获得对重金属的耐受性,其子实体内重金属含量,繁殖体密度和侵染势可作为重金属污染程度的生物指示剂。     

AM真菌菌丝际细菌具有固氮解磷双重功能

为了认识和理解丛枝菌根真菌(AM真菌)根外菌丝表面定殖的细菌是否同时具有固氮和解磷能力,从田间生长的玉米菌根根外菌丝表面分离鉴定了固氮菌,评价了其固氮和解磷能力。从AM真菌根外菌丝表面分离出23株可在无氮培养基中生长的细菌,分属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)下的9个不同的属(Brevundimonas、Microbacterium、Sphingomonas、Paenibacillus、Variovorax、Xenophilus、Hydrocarboniphaga、Arthrobacter和Bacillus);11株细菌具有固氮酶活性,固氮酶活性最高值为(2.97±1.32)nmol·mg~(-1)·h~(-1);12株细菌具有活化有机磷的能力,11株细菌具有溶解难溶性无机磷的能力,其中8株细菌同时具有解有机磷和难溶性无机磷能力,并且解有机磷能力高于解难溶性无机磷能力;16株细菌具有分泌IAA(吲哚乙酸)能力,IAA分泌量最高值为(688.00±19.17)mg·mL~(-1);6株细菌同时具备固氮酶活性、解有机磷、解难溶性无机磷和分泌IAA能力。上述结果表明,AM真菌根外菌丝表面定殖有多种具备固氮、解磷和促生能力的细菌,这些具有多重功能的细菌可能极大地扩展菌根途径吸收土壤养分的能力。     

转Lj-POLLUX和Lj-NFR1-NFR5基因的水稻对AM真菌侵染的影响

丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌是一种古老的植物共生真菌,与植物约有4亿多年的共生史[1-2],能与80％以上的陆生植物形成共生体一丛枝菌根.它能促进宿主植物吸收土壤中矿质元素,增加植物的抗逆性,提高作物产量,调节宿主的代谢活动,促进植物生长,改善作物品质等[3-4].     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi regulate plant mineral nutrient uptake and partitioning in iron ore tailings undergoing eco-engineered pedogenesis

Excess available K and Fe in Fe ore tailings with organic matter amendment and water-deficiencies may restrain plant colonization and growth, which hinders the formation of eco-engineered soil from these tailings for sustainable and cost-effective mine site rehabilitation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widely demonstrated to assist plant growth under various unfavorable environments. However, it is still unclear whether AM symbiosis in tailings amended with different types of plant biomass and under different water conditions could overcome the surplus K and Fe stress for plants in Fe ore tailings, and if so, by what mechanisms. Here, host plants (Sorghum sp. Hybrid cv. Silk), either colonized or noncolonized by the AM fungi (Glomus spp.), were cultivated in lucerne hay (LH, C:N ratio of 18)- or sugarcane mulch (SM, C:N ratio of 78)-amended Fe ore tailings under well-watered (55% water-holding capacity (WHC) of tailings) or water-deficient (30% WHC of tailings) conditions. Root mycorrhizal colonization, plant growth, and mineral elemental uptake and partitioning were examined. Results indicated that AM fungal colonization improved plant growth in tailings amended with plant biomass under water-deficient conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization enhanced plant mineral element uptake, especially P, both in the LH- and SM-amended tailings regardless of water condition. Additionally, AM symbiosis development restrained the translocation of excess elements (i.e., K and Fe) from plant roots to shoots, thereby relieving their phytotoxicity. The AM fungal roles in P uptake and excess elemental partitioning were greater in LH-amended tailings than in SM-amended tailings. Water deficiency weakened AM fungal colonization and functions in terms of mineral element uptake and partitioning. These findings highlighted the vital role AM fungi played in regulating plant growth and nutrition status in Fe ore tailings technosol, providing an important basis for involvement of AM fungi in the eco-engineered pedogenesis of Fe ore tailings.     

“Afterlife” effects of mycorrhization on the decomposition of plant residues

The symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is known to affect growth and tissue quality of plants. Therefore, mycorrhization may also have “afterlife” effects on decomposition dynamics. We tested this hypothesis with plant material of mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized plants of seven grassland species. We found that mycorrhization increased the decomposition rate and interpret this result as a consequence of the enhanced nutritive status of the plant tissue with positive effects on decomposer activity. The turn-over of organic matter and nutrients in ecosystems may therefore be indirectly influenced by the symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi.     

Impact of soil nitrogen concentration on Glomus spp.-Sinorhizobium interactions as affecting growth, nitrate reductase activity and protein content of Medicago sativa

Our objective was to evaluate how increasing levels of N in the medium (0, 4, 8 and 16 mmol N added kg^-1 soil) affect the interaction between Sinorhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi in the tripartite symbiosis with Medicago sativa. Growth response, nutrient acquisition, protein content, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity were measured both in plant shoots and roots. Results showed that N levels in soil did not affect mycorrhizal colonization but they strongly influenced nodulation, particularly of mycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhizal colonization was required for a proper nodulation when no N was applied to soil. In contrast, the addition of 4 mmol N kg^-1 soil reduced nodulation only in mycorrhizal plants and 8 mmol N added kg^-1 soil allowed nodule formation only in non-mycorrhizal plants. Nodulation was totally inhibited in all treatments with the addition of 16 mmol N added kg^-1 soil. N addition enhanced NR activity in all the treatments, while AM colonization increased the proportion of NR allocated to roots. This effect was more pronounced under the lowest N levels in the medium. The two AM fungal species showed different distribution pattern of enzymatic activities in plant tissues indicating specific physiological traits. Protein content as well as the relative proportion of protein in roots were greatly increased after mycorrhizal colonization. Glomus intraradices-colonized plants had the highest protein content in shoot and root. Mycorrhizal effects on growth, N acquisition and biochemical variables cannot be interpreted as an indirect P-mediated effect since P content was lower in mycorrhizal plants than in those which were P fertilized. Mycorrhizal colonization increased the N content in plants irrespective of the N level, but the effectiveness of AM fungi on plant N acquisition depended on the AM fungus involved, G. intraradices being the most effective, particularly at the highest N rate. N₂ fixation, enhanced by AM colonization, contributed to N acquisition when a moderate N quantity was available in the soil. Nevertheless, under a high N amount the nodulating process and/or fixing capacity by Sinorhizobium was reduced in AM plants. In contrast, the AM fungal mycelium from a particular mycorrhizal fungus may continue to contribute efficiently to the N uptake from the soil even at high N levels. These results demonstrate the particular sensitivity of AM fungal species in terms of their growth and/or function to increasing N amounts in the medium. A selection of AM fungi used to address specific environmental conditions, such as N fertilization regimes comparable to those used in agronomic practices, is required for a better use of N applied to soil.     

丛枝菌根真菌在湿地生境中的分布及其在人工湿地中的应用研究进展

Over the last three decades, the presence and functional roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in wetland habitats have received increasing attention. This review summarized the mycorrhizal status in wetlands and the effect of flooding on AM fungal colonization. Plants of 99 families living in 31 different habitats have been found to be associated with AM fungi, even including submerged aquatic plants and several plant species that were thought to be nonmycorrhizal (Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Plumbaginaceae). The functions of AM fungi in wetland ecological systems could be concluded as their influences on the composition, succession, and diversity of the wetland plant community, and the growth and nutrition of wetland plants. Affecting the composition, succession, and diversity of the wetland plant community, AM fungi have positive, negative, or neutral effects on the performance of different wetland species under different conditions. The factors that affect the application effect of AM fungi in constructed wetland (CW) include flooding, phosphorus, plant species, aerenchyma, salinity, CW types, operation modes of CW, and wastewater quality. The generalist AM fungi strains can be established spontaneously, rapidly, and extensively in wastewater bioremediation technical installations; therefore, AM fungi can be considered ideal inhabitants of technical installations for the plant-based bioremediation of groundwater contaminated by organic pollutants or other contaminants. In the future, roles of AM fungi and factors that affect the purifying capacity of AM-CW system must be understood to optimize CW ecosystem.     

不同种植密度下丛枝菌根真菌对玉米磷吸收的影响

【目的】利用土著丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AM真菌)与作物形成互惠互利的共生关系提高作物对土壤磷的利用效率是解决农业生产中磷供需矛盾的主要途径之一,本研究在大田玉米不同种植密度条件下,研究AM真菌对玉米根系的侵染及磷吸收作用,为揭示集约化玉米高效获取磷的机理提供理论依据。【方法】以大田作物玉米的两种种植密度(5104 plants/hm2和9104 plants/hm2)体系为研究对象,在田间原位埋设PVC管装置,通过测定菌丝生长室中的菌丝密度和有效磷耗竭来确定不同种植密度体系条件下AM真菌对玉米磷吸收的作用。【结果】相对于低密度种植群体,高密度群体显著降低了玉米拔节期土壤有效磷的耗竭量,同时增加了玉米地上部的磷含量,即磷吸收效率,增幅达20%; 在玉米拔节期,增加种植密度使根际的根外菌丝生物量(菌丝密度)降低了4%,而非根际土壤中的根外菌丝生物量(菌丝密度)增加了37%; 高密度玉米种植密度群体中AM真菌的根外菌丝对土壤有效磷耗竭的贡献增加了22%。【结论】集约化玉米生产中土著AM真菌依然帮助植株从土壤中吸收有效磷; 高密度体系下玉米对磷的吸收更加依赖于AM真菌。高密度种植增加AM真菌对玉米的侵染、 根外菌丝量和对土壤有效磷的吸收。     

植物激素响应和调控丛枝菌根共生研究进展

【目的】丛枝菌根是土壤中的丛枝菌真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM）与大多数陆地植物根系形成的互惠共生体。丛枝菌根的形成过程是一系列信号交换和转导的结果,受到很多基因的程序化表达调控。植物激素作为重要的信号物质被证实能够参与调控植物与AM真菌的互作过程。本文简述了植物激素在调控丛枝菌根形成的作用机理,为激素调控丛枝菌根形成的研究与应用提供理论线索。主要进展外源施加低浓度的生长素和脱落酸能够促进丛枝菌根共生,而外源施加赤霉素能够显著抑制丛枝菌根中丛枝的形成;内源缺失赤霉素,脱落酸以及油菜素内酯会抑制丛枝菌根共生;茉莉酸合成突变体推迟丛枝菌根形成;独脚金内酯合成、转运以及受体突变体都会抑制丛枝菌根共生;生长素以及脱落酸受体表达量降低会抑制丛枝菌根共生。但是生长素信号受体的降低表达不仅能够显著抑制丛枝菌根的形成还能显著抑制丛枝细胞的正常发育,而植物脱落酸信号受体表达降低突变体中丛枝细胞发育正常。研究展望激素如何调控丛枝菌根共生的研究仍处于起步阶段。随着转基因和基因编辑技术（如Crispr/cas9系统介导的基因敲除技术）的快速发展以及通过菌根植物的基因组、转录组、蛋白质和代谢组数据的挖掘,丛枝菌根共生中的众多科学问题以及与其他植物-微生物互作系统等问题都将一一得到解答。     

Effects of nitrogen feeding for extraradical mycelium of Rhizophagus irregularis maize symbiosis incorporated with phosphorus availability

In terrestrial ecosystems, plants are frequently in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with mineral nutrients and photosynthesis carbon exchanges in between. This research sought to identify the effects of phosphorus (P) levels on the nitrogen (N) uptake via extraradical mycelium (ERM) and the mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) of maize plants within the AMF symbiosis. Pots were separated into root compartments and hyphae compartments (HCs) with two layers of a 30‐μm mesh membrane and an air gap in between, where only hyphae could pass through, to avoid both N diffusion and root growth effects. Maize plants were inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis with different N fertilization in HCs under two different P fertilization levels. Our results indicated that a strong increase in MGR with low‐P fertilization. The same tendency was not observed with high‐P fertilization, although both had a large increase in P concentration as a potential source of growth in shoot tissue of mycorrhizal plants. Substantial effects (10.5% more N) were observed in the case of high‐P availability for the host plants from ERM fed with N, whereas under low‐P conditions ERM may prioritize P uptake rather than N uptake. The AM fungi increase the uptake of N and P, which are most limiting in the soil with fewer forces from soil resources. In addition, there was still more P accumulated than N due to the high N for ERM with high‐P supply. Low N in HCs corresponded with a lower colonization rate in roots but with high hyphae density in HCs; this result suggest that N and P availability might change the ratio of extraradical to intraradical hyphae length.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and phosphorus acquisition of plants: effects of coexisting plant species

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi influence interactions among plant species through enhancing nutrient uptake and possibly facilitating nutrient transport among plants. However, the effects of one plant species on coexisting plant species with regard to mycorrhizal colonization are not well understood. We examined root mycorrhizal colonization and phosphorus (P) acquisition of plants in a highly P-limiting soil in Lanxi city, Zhejiang, China from the year 2000 to 2002. Three dominant native plant species with different mycorrhizal properties, Digitaria ciliaris (poorly mycorrhizal species), Ixeris denticulate (moderately mycorrhizal species) and Kummerowia striata (highly mycorrhizal species), were planted in experimental plots. In the monocultures, K. striata was found to have the highest infection and D. ciliaris the lowest mycorrhizal infection, but shoot P-concentration was higher in both I. denticulate and D. ciliaris than that in K. striata. In the mixtures, D. ciliaris and I. denticulate did not significantly affect the mycorrhizal colonization, spore production and shoot P-concentration of K. striata plants, but K. striata and I. denticulate significantly increased root mycorrhizal colonization and shoot P-concentration of D. ciliaris. K. striata enhanced but D. ciliaris reduced mycorrhizal infection and shoot P-concentration of I. denticulate. These results suggested that highly mycorrhizal plant species may positively impact coexisting species with respect to mycorrhizal colonization and P acquisition, but the effects on poorly mycorrhizal species are less predictable.     

Infection of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees by Glomus mosseae: growth and mineral nutrition

In the past century, the excessive exploitation of the environment by human beings has resulted in the depletion of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees in Italian forests, creating a need for re-forestation. The aim of this research was to verify whether a vescicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus is able to colonise the root of valuable hardwood trees and to evaluate the impact of the VAM fungus on growth and macroelement nutrition of its plant hosts.Four species of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees, Prunus avium L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., and Juglans nigra L., were inoculated with Glomus mosseae, a VAM fungus, and cultivated in a greenhouse. Infection after inoculation and root colonization by the fungus, tree growth, and macro-element nutrition were evaluated two-years after inoculation. G. mosseae formed mycorrhizae on all plants. However, different morphological aspects - predominantly the formation of Arum type arbuscles in P. avium and F. excelsior - were observed. A general improvement of macro-element nutrition from species to species characterised an enhanced growth of mycorrhizal plants. Therefore, it is plausible that the association of VAMs with these broadleaf trees, could overcome the difficulties encountered in the transplanting and the slow growth typical of these tree species.Although numerous articles have reported the beneficial effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on trees, there is a sparse literature on the association of VAM with tree species. Therefore, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of the symbiosis between valuable broadleaf trees and VAM fungi in macroelement nutrition.