Mycoparasitism in plants Was: Anaerobic Fungi...

[cws1 at axe.humboldt.edu]

On Wed, 20 Mar 1996, Grunden Eric wrote:
> Oh, also, there are many
> cases of fungi parasitizing plants, but does the opposite ever
> occur? Is there a parasitic plant that exists off of fungi?

Sarcodes, Monotropa and other members of the subfamily Monotropoideae 
(Ericaceae) parasitize the mycorrhizal fungi of other plants, drawing off 
photosynthate.  They support a variation of the ericoid infection, termed 
(not surprisingly) a monotropoid infection.

The Orobanchaceae are another group of achlorophylous mycoparasites.  
Does anyone know what sort of infection morphology they support?

------------------------==+==--------------------------
Curt Seeliger                cws1 at axe.humboldt.edu   
Soil Ecology Group (of 1!)   "Nature laughs last."
Humbled State University
Arcata, CA      95521