Comparison of type specimens of A. gerdemannii and A.
appendicula
revealed the spores to be identical in organization and
subcellular structure, indicating they are conspecific. The Glomus
morph of
A. appendicula was not assigned a name in the protologue,
but 11 living cultures started from or producing spores of A. gerdemannii
also generated Glomus-like spores of identical morphology
to those in type specimens of Glomus leptotichum. These spores
were
indistinguishable from those in type specimens of G.
fecundisporum, indicating they are conspecific. Both species were
described
in the same paper, so the name G. leptotichum is given
priority because type specimens are in better condition and specimens from
a
reference culture have been identified by an author of
both prologues. Absence of a teleomorph and confirmation of dimorphism
from
single and multiple-spore inoculations of host plants
in culture provide the basis for designating A. gerdemannii and
G.
leptotichum as synanamorphs of one vesicular-arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungus.