Amanita muscaria invasion in native Nothofagaceae of Patagonian Argentina: updates on hosts and morphological tools for monitoring and control

Abstract

We examined the expansion of Amanita muscaria into native protected Nothofagaceae forests of Patagonian Argentina and documented its occurrence in pure Nothofagus dombeyi and Lophozonia alpina stands. We confirmed the effective ectomycorrhizal association between A. muscaria and L. alpina, representing the first verified record of this symbiosis in Patagonia. We provided detailed morphological descriptions of the ectomycorrhizas formed with N. dombeyi and L. alpina and compared them with those most planted Pinus spp. These descriptions revealed diagnostic traits that allowed us to reliably distinguish the new associations from previously known morphotypes of A. muscaria. Our results support the use of EM morphotyping as a low-cost and practical tool for monitoring invaded stands and for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of forest management interventions across these native forests.