The Mycorrhizal Status in Mountainous Vegetation in the Faroe Islands: Sopparót í Føroyskum Fjallavøkstri

Abstract

A vegetation survey on five mountainslopes in the Faroes, recording the vegetation at different altitudes, is the basis for an estimate of how dependent the plants are on the benefieial soil fungi (mycorrhiza), which are able to provide the plants with nutrients and protect them against pathogenic soil fungi. In return these beneficial soil fungi require carbohydrates from the plants. Although several plants are not able to or less dependent upon mycorrhiza, they seem to be less frequent than the
plant species, which normally are mycorrhizal. There are different types ol' myeorrhiza, and some ol' them do not coexist. For example mushroom-forming mycorrhiza is rare on heathland. The most common type, arbuscular mycorrhiza, seems to coexist with other types of myeorrhiza. The data presented in this paper indicate that dual infection, where a plant is colonised by different types of mycorrhiza could be of importance in the Faroese mountainous vegetation.