Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from the rhi-
zosphere of the endemic Laurisilva tree, Picconia azorica,
were characterised at two sites in each of two Azorean islands
(Terceira and São Miguel). Forty-six spore morphotypes were
found, and DNA extraction was attempted from individual
spores of each of these. DNA was obtained from 18 of the
morphotypes, from which a 1.5 kb long fragment of the nu-
clear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU-ITS-LSU) was sequenced. A
total of 125 AMF sequences were obtained and assigned to 18
phylotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed sequences belong-
ing to the families, Acaulosporaceae, Archaeosporaceae,
Claroideoglomeraceae, Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae.
Phylotype richness changed between islands and between
sampling sites at both islands suggesting that geographical
and historical factors are determinant in shaping AMF
communities in native forest of Azores. Ecological anal-
ysis of the molecular data revealed differences in AMF
community composition between islands. In Terceira, the

• Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under Picconia azorica in native forests of Azores