Fig 6. Conifer trees are susceptible to colonization by Cryptococcus.

Colony forming units (CFUs + SEM) at three weeks post-inoculation are shown. (A) Cryptococcus cells were recovered from Douglas fir and Eastern hemlock seedlings. C. neoformans was recovered from both Douglas fir and Eastern hemlock; however, recovery of C. deneoformans, C. gattii, C. bacillisporus, C. deuterogattii strains was inconsistent. In a plant infection trial, Douglas fir, Eucalyptus, and Mopane infection models were compared utilizing engineered strains containing various drug-resistant cassettes. Cryptococcus cells were recovered from Eucalyptus, Mopane, and Douglas fir infected with individual and mated strains. Error bars represent +SEM.