Apparent lack of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) in the seagrasses ¤Zostera marina¤ L. and ¤Thalassia testudinum¤ Banks ex Konig

We examined two populations of Zostera marina L. and one of Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König for the presence of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM). None of these plants showed any VAM colonization. In addition, we were unable to find any literature references on the presence of VAM in seagrasses, although VAM has been found in a wide variety of submerged and emergent freshwater angiosperms as well as in salt marsh plants.

If the lack of data on VAM in seagrasses in the literature can be attributed to an absence of VAM in seagrasses, it can be hypothesized to be due to the effect of low oxygen levels in marine sediments and high salinities as joint stressors. These factors have been found to reduce VAM colonization in other plant types.