Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of Douglas-fir on diverse soil lithologies of central British Columbia.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are symbiotic partners of most conifers and improve host health by increasing access to nutrients and water in return for photosynthates. ECM fungi have been demonstrated to ameliorate the effects of some harsh soil chemical conditions on plants. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco) is found on and off extreme bedrock-derived soils in central British Columbia The objectives of this study were to describe the soils and Douglas-fir forests found on the diverse lithologies of the Fort St. James area and to assess seedling health and ECM fungal communities of Douglas-fir grown on these soils by morphological and molecular means. Fifteen ECM morphotypes, 12 basidiomycetes and 3 ascomycetes were identified with Tuber anniae (Ascomycota) unique to ultramafic soils. Three morphotypes (E-strain, Cenococcum geophilum, and Rhizopogon cf. villosulus) were ubiquitous on all sites and no connection between parent material and ECM communities was established. --Leaf ii.