Spore germination inHebeloma stimulated by living plant roots

Summary Basidiospores from 14 strains ofHebeloma (Agaricales) representing 5 groups of mycorrhiza-forming species were tested for germination on a nutrient agar medium. Germination occurred in 13 strains but never exceeded 0.1%. A 10-fold increase or more in germination percentage was obtained in 4 out of 7 tested spore collections only by placing the growing root of a pine seedling among the spores on the agar medium.This investigation was in part supported by a grant from the Swedish National Science Research Council.The authors wish to thank Dr G. Bruchet for taxonomical identification of the fruit-body material.This work was carried out when D. B. was holding a bilateral French-Swedish exchange fellowship (1978–79) through the Swedish Institute, Stockholm.