Identification Procedure

synthesis: comparison of the unknown ectomycorrhiza with ectomycorrhizae synthesized using cultures of known fungi
pure culture: comparison of cultures of fungi isolated from the unknown ectomycorrhiza with cultures of known fungi
mycelium and strand comparison: comparison of the mycelium and mycelial strands attached to the unknown ectomycorrhiza with those attached to the bases of nearby sporocarps of known identity
physical link: tracing of mycelial strands that form a continuous physical connection from the unknown ectomycorrhiza to a sporocarp of known identity
published descriptions: comparison of the unknown ectomycorrhiza with published descriptions of identified ectomycorrhizae, possibly with the assistance of keys
DNA: comparison of RFLP data or DNA sequences from the unknown ectomycorrhiza with RFLPs or sequences from identified fungi, most often using sporocarps collected from the same location as the unknown ectomycorrhiza
association: consistently finding the unknown ectomycorrhiza close to sporocarps of a known identity