High mycorrhizal specificity in the mycoheterotrophic Burmannia nepalensis and B. itoana (Burmanniaceae)

• Mycorrhizal fungi of two mycoheterotrophic Burmannia species were identified.
• A single RFLP pattern and fungal sequence were obtained from B. nepalensis roots.
• A single type of fungus was also found from B. itoana roots.
• Our results indicate that these species have high specificity toward fungal partner.

Mycorrhizal fungi of mycoheterotrophic Burmannia nepalensis and B. itoana were identified by molecular identification methods based on fungal SSU nrDNA region. In B. nepalensis, RFLP patterns and sequences from all root samples from 14 individuals were identical. A single fungal sequence was also obtained from B. itoana roots from three individuals. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the fungal sequences from these two species are included in Glomeraceae (former Glomus group A). Our results indicate that the two Burmannia species are associated with narrow phylogenetic ranges of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.