Hartig's Net

Abstract

This image depicts the root tip of a turkish hazelnut plant. My research investigates the impact different hazelnut genotype groups had on the mycorrhizae that colonized their root systems. To confirm colonization and type of mycorrhizal infection, root tips were stained with TruBlue stain. This picture was taken through a light microscope at 40x magnification. The stain dyes all of the fungal cells blue making it easier to see all of the hyphae that would otherwise be difficult to see. To make the root transparent, it was boiled in 10% KOH. This allows us to see the Hartig net structures within the root classifying this infection as ectomycorrhizae. More hyphae that surround the root tip is visible at the very tip of the root. Also a darkened brownish septate is visible within these hyphae classifying this fungus within the phylum Basidiomycota. For more information about the Image of Research--Undergraduate Edition go to: http://go.library.illinois.edu/imageofresearch_uredition