New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Genet size and distribution of Amanita muscaria in a
suburban park, Dunedin, New Zealand
Scott J. Bagley
David A. Orlovich
Department of Botany
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
Email: david.orlovich@botany.otago.ac.nz
Abstract Amanita muscaria is a common
ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus introduced to New Zealand. It most
commonly forms associations with introduced host trees, but is also
known to form ECM associations with native Nothofagus species.
It may act as a “mycorrhizal weed” and could potentially have
far-reaching consequences for the diversity of indigenous fungal taxa
in New Zealand. Little is known about its population biology. By
analysing the banding patterns produced from randomly amplified
microsatellite (RAMS) primed polymerase chain reactions, we examined
the genetic structure of an established population of A. muscaria in
a park in Dunedin, New Zealand. The primer BDB(ACA)5 was
found to have a higher number of polymorphisms than the either of the
primers DDB(CCA)5 or DHB(CGA)5, and it is
possible that within any given area the number of genets detected might
be greater, and the size of genets smaller, with the use of more
primers. Within a 40 × 40 m area the population was
found to comprise 28 genotypes, both small (< 6.0 m across) and
large (> 6.0 m across). The distribution of genotypes showed no
clear pattern of spatial segregation, indicating that single genotypes
may comprise multiple ramets rather than contiguous genets. The
presence of both small and large genets (or widely separated ramets)
indicates that establishment through sexually derived basidiospores and
through mycelial spread may play important roles in populations of A.
muscaria such as the one studied. A. muscaria may employ
a strategy combining attributes of C, S, and r-selected ecological
strategies. Frequent disturbance at the site may mean that
establishment by basidiospore plays a more important role than at other
sites with low levels of disturbance.
Keywords fungi; Amanita muscaria; random
amplified microsatellite analysis
B04009; Received 19 March 2004; accepted 23 August 2004; Online
publication date 9 December 2004
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2004, Vol. 42: 939–947
0028–825X/04/4205–0939 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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