Several forms of extracellular crystals have been observed in vitro on a semisynthetic culture medium. The conditions for their formation have not been determined. Their morphology and their localisation on the hyphal surface and in the culture medium have been investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. These crystals have been identified as dehydrated calcium oxalate (Weddellite) using x-ray diffraction methods. Their high calcium content has been demonstrated with the scanning electron microprobe, by detecting the x-ray emission of calcium. The significance of calcium oxalate production by an ectomycorrhizal fungus is discussed.

Ectomycorrhizas of Dryas octopetala (Rosaceae) were synthesized with two alpine species of Hebeloma and observed by means of transmission electron microscopy. The mycorrhizas studied here were harvested at the time of fruiting of the associated fungi. The ultrastructure of the mycelial sheath, Hartig net, host cortical cells, and host–mycobiont interface was thus defined from very active, functional, living structures. Following analysis of the results, an interpretation of hyphal morphogenesis in the sheath and in the Hartig net is proposed.

Summer and fall studies investigated the control of growth of bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Marshall’s Delight’) by paclobutrazol, uniconazole, or flurprimidol applied to the substrate as a surface drench or through subirrigation. Flurprimidol and uniconazole were applied at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 ppm (0, 0.09, 0.18, 0.27, or 2.0 mg/pot), while paclobutrazol was applied at 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 ppm (0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, or 2.4 mg/pot). Substrate drench applications were more effective than applications through subirrigation at reducing plant growth. Few trends in application concentrations within plant growth regulator occurred for the plant parameters measured. Based on inconsistent plant responses between the two studies and few differences among application concentrations, we do not recommend any of these plant growth regulators for controlling plant size of bee balm during production without further testing in production environments specific to bee balm.