Research

New mycorrhizal types and high diversity of fungi in tropical forests

Since 2001 we investigate structural and molecular diversity of mycorrhizas of trees, ericads and orchids in the mega diverse, tropical mountain rain forest of Southern Ecuador [80,81,82]. We also studied mycorrhizas of trees in the seasonally dry afro-montane forest of Ethiopia [56,57].

The tropical mountain rainforests of Ecuador are also called "cloud forests". Photo: I. Kottke.

Methods

Main techniques used are light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy and imaging (EELS/ESI), fluorescence microscopy, DNA-sequencing and molecular phylogeny of mycorrhizal fungi.

Mycorrhizas in tropical forests

Our research on the mycorrhizas of tropical mountain forests encompasses:

	New structures and morphotyping of arbuscular mycorrhiza of trees
	Molecular diversity and community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and consequences for sustainable forestry
	Rare ectomycorrhizas in the tropical mountain rain forest
	The cavendishioid mycorrhiza of Andean ericads
	Epiphytic orchids form mycorrhizas with Tulasnellales and Sebacinales

Previous mycorrhiza projects in temperate forests

	Structure of the Hartig net and establishment of ectomycorrhizas
	Description of ectomycorrhiza morphotypes
	Ecology of ectomycorrhizas and potential toxic elements
	Ectomycorrhizas for sustainable forests
	Mycorrhiza-like associations of liverworts