Root endophytes of lupin and some other legumes in Northwestern USA

Roots of ten species of Lupinus and three other legumes collected from field soils were cleared, stained, and examined for fungal colonization. Three species were not colonized. Nine species were colonized by aseptate hyphae and vesicles attributable to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Seven species were sometimes colonized by fungi with septate hyphae, which often formed intracellular sclerotia. The associations observed are compared with previous reports and discussed in relation to legume systematics.