XVI International Botanical Congess

Because of the consistent association of their fruiting bodies with elm trees, it has long been thought that Morchella spp., the morel, has a specific relationship with plant roots, possibly being mycorrhizal. We inoculated roots of two- week old seedlings of Ulmus americana, U. rubra, Malus sylvestris, and Picea mariana with mycelium of M. esculenta or M. elata in a sterile system. After several weeks, we have been able to recognize the development of fungal-root associations. Further microscopic observation, along with altered root and shoot biomass of these saplings compared with controls, should determine the type of relationship. We have also compared the inoculated seedlings with roots collected beneath wild-fruiting ascocarps. Our hypothesis is that M. esculenta and M. elata are facultatively mycorrhizal fungi.