We discovered that Sarcoleotia globosa (Geoglossomycetes) fruited on the soil of ornamental Erica pot cultures, and its ascospores can germinate on plain agar. These findings prompted us to collect isolates from horticultural and natural environments in Japan and analyze their phylogeny and root colonizing ability. Pure cultures were successfully obtained from ascospores and surface-sterilized ericaceous roots. Phylogenetic analysis based on rRNA internal transcribed spacer sequences revealed that Japanese samples were separated into three strongly supported clades. Individual clade consisted of samples derived from (1) Erica pot cultures, (2) Rhododendron planted in a garden or Vaccinium pot culture, and (3) natural habitats in Hokkaido. Colony characteristics and in vitro root-colonizing morphology observed may correspond to these phylogenetic variations. Irrespective of the clades, all tested strains formed hyphal coils in vital rhizodermal cells of V. virgatum seedlings, which resembled those of ericoid mycorrhizae. Our results represent novel findings that can be the first step in unraveling the currently unknown ecology of geoglossoid fungi.

Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Benátská 2 CZ 128 01 Praha 2 Czech Republic

Division of Fruit Tree Production Reseach Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science NARO 92 24 Shimokuriyagawa Morioka 020 0123 Iwate Japan

School of Pharmacy Nihon University 7 7 1 Narashinodai Funabashi 274 8555 Chiba Japan

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