Natural Resources Canada
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Canadian Forest Service (CFS)
Proactive Disclosure

Procedures For Submitting Descriptions To This Manual

by D.M. Goodman, S.M. Berch, and J.A. Trofymow

Criteria for selection of ectomycorrhizae for inclusion in this manual

We are most interested in common or distinctive ectomycorrhizae, or ectomycorrhizae for which ecological information is available. Identified ectomycorrhizae of which detailed descriptions have not been published are preferred. Descriptions of identified ectomycorrhizae (species of host and of fungus known) are preferred because a single species of fungus may form ectomycorrhizae variable in morphology, and, conversely, several species of fungi may form morphologically and anatomically indistinguishable ectomycorrhizae. The identity of the host species must be known. Descriptions need to be based on numerous samples and extensive study in order to represent the most common or typical morphology and anatomy. Ensure each sample has been identified. Describe the techniques used to describe the ectomycorrhiza if they differ from those outlined in the  Describing Ectomycorrhizae section.

Submission and review process

  1. To avoid duplication, tell the editor the species of fungus and plant you wish to describe. Contact Dr. J.A.Trofymow or Dr. D.M. Goodman.
  2. The editor will send you a package confirming the species, informing you of the cost for the DNA characterization service, and providing other relevant information including the format for submissions.
  3. Prepare the description in the requested format, including DNA characterization if possible, and submit together with the needed voucher materials by June. Inform the editor if you are unable to characterize the DNA, and will be using the DNA service.
  4. The editors will check the submission for completeness and format and, if acceptable, it will be reviewed by the editors and by one other expert.  During an August workshop, the review committee will evaluate the submitted descriptions, reviewers comments, and voucher materials.
  5. If the description is accepted, reference material will be accessioned into the herbarium DAVFP, and you will be asked to submit samples for DNA analysis if you haven't provided RFLP data. Minor changes indicated by the reviewers will be made by the editors and the description sent to you for approval. Final revisions must be made and the document returned to the editors by October, in time for publication in December.
  6. If the reviewers indicate that there are major revisions needed, the submission will be returned to you. Descriptions requiring major revision will have to be resubmitted for at least editorial review. In some cases, it may be necessary to resubmit the description for complete review in the following year.

Materials to be submitted

  1. A colour plate of 2-8 photos and 0-3 line drawings, for a total of <= 8 figures. Include both a low magnification (~ 10x) photo of the overall morphology of the ectomycorrhizal system, and a high magnification (~ 40x) photo showing the texture of the mantle surface. For examples see the published descriptions. Submit either a photographic plate or, preferably, a high-resolution digital image file (TIFF, JPEG, or PICT). If submitting a digital image, also send a high quality proof, which will be used to judge the image quality, to adjust colour if necessary.
  2. Three 100% (no enlargement or reduction) colour photocopies of the colour plate (for reviewers), with labeling as described below (How to prepare colour and black and white plates).
  3. A black and white plate of 2-8 photos and 0-3 line drawings, for a total of <= 8 figures. Show the most important anatomical details, eg. mantle, hyphae, mycelial strands, cystidia. Most photos will be taken at high power (1000x) although some may be taken at 400-500x. For examples see the published descriptions. Submit either a hard copy or, preferably, a high resolution digital image file (TIFF, JPEG, or PICT).
  4. Three 100% (no enlargement or reduction) photocopies of the black and white plate, with labeling as described below (How to prepare colour and black and white plates).
  5. The text describing the ectomycorrhiza, as a file in a specified format (contact the editor); and one printed copy.
  6. A copy of the completed checklist. This will be used in case there is any doubt or confusion about the text, and will be used to enter data into a database used to construct synoptic keys.
  7. Reference material:
    1. two sealed (semi-permanent mount) microscope slides of peels or glancing sections of the mantle in lactic acid or lactoglycerol
    2. >=25 tips of freeze-dried ectomycorrhizae in a single vial
    3. (where applicable) air-dried sporocarps that have been linked to the ectomycorrhiza. Reference materials will be accessioned into the herbarium DAVFP of the Pacific Forestry Centre of the Canadian Forest Service.
  8. Frozen ectomycorrhizae for DNA analysis. After a description is accepted for publication the author will be given instructions as to how and where to send these. Do not send with items 1-7. RFLP information will be included in the text of the description. Authors may either submit frozen ectomycorrhizae for DNA analysis, or do the DNA analysis themselves as detailed in theProtocols for Analysis of DNA From Mycorrhizal Roots section, and submit the RFLP data.

How to prepare colour and black and white plates

  1. colour plate of morphology (dissection microscope):  At least two photos are required. Photograph at 4x-7x to illustrate features of a system of ectomycorrhizal root tips, and at >= 25x (preferably both 25x and 40x) to show details such as texture, hyphae (e.g. laticifers), cystidia, and mycelial strands. Put the lower magnification photos before the higher magnification photos. Final magnification on the published plates will be about 10x for photos taken at 4x-7x, and about 40x for photos taken at 25x. A black background is required except that a colourless grey background may be used for dark subjects. Photos will not be accepted for publication if they contain bubbles, out-of-focus roots, or reflections.
  2. black and white plate of anatomy (compound microscope):  At least two photos are required. Photos of the outer mantle and inner mantle will normally be included. Illustrate other layers if they are described in the text. Photos of emanating hyphae, mycelial strands and cystidia should also be included if these features are present.
  3. both plates:  The following instructions apply to both the colour and black and white plates, and to both photos and line drawings. Line drawings (optional) are not to occupy more than 50% of the area of the plate. If you do not submit a digital image, mount figures on paper, not card (to allow scanning with a drum scanner). Ensure that each figure is filled with useful information, i.e. that areas of background only, or of subject that is out of focus, are not excessive. Place individual figures directly against each other, i.e., without space between the figures. A thin white line will be added between all figures electronically after the plate is scanned. Do not put any labeling (letters, numbers, scale bars, arrows, etc.) on the plate. These will be added electronically. The plate must be 175 mm high by 114 mm wide, no larger or smaller, and have no blank spaces within this area. On the photocopies number each figure according to its position in the plate, starting in the upper left and proceeding as words are read on this page, left to right and top to bottom. Number figures in the black and white plate x+1, x+2, ..., where x is the number of figures in the colour plate. Try to order the figures as the features they illustrate are ordered in the written description. On or next to each figure on the photocopy indicate the scale, either as a magnification, or by giving the length in mm of a scale bar.  For colour figures of morphology use scale bars that represent 100, 200, 500, 1000, or 2000 µm. For black and white figures of anatomy use scale bars that represent 10, 20, 50, or 100 µm. Any arrows to appear on the figures also need to be positioned on the photocopies. In the word processor file containing the text of the description, provide a short title for each figure, e.g. 1. Mycelial strand, 2. Emanating hyphae, 3. Outer mantle.

How to prepare the text of a description

Characters are described in an order similar to that of the checklist, using the same terminology. Contact the editor to obtain a word processor file containing the standard style and formatting, and use the most recently published descriptions as a guide. If you include characters indicated as optional, or characters not on the checklist, place them under existing headings, rather than creating new headings.
Title. Specify the order and family of the fungus according to Hawksworth et al. (1995)
Anatomy of the mantle.  For clarity, describe the mantle cells in addition to stating the type of mantle, e.g., "a regular synenchyma with triangular to quadrangular cells". To describe more than two layers, use CDE13 as a guide.
Ecology. List any other hosts on which you know that the fungus forms similar ectomycorrhizae.
References. Format as in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research or as in this manual.

Requirements for reference materials

Follow the procedures given for preparation of voucher material. Microscope slides are to show both the outer and inner surfaces of the mantle, and features of rhizomorphs. All reference materials need to be labeled with the species of fungus and host. In addition to the reference materials, which are typical and on which the description has been based, voucher materials may also be submitted to document variation in the ectomycorrhiza. Be sure to distinguish reference materials from other voucher materials.