Despite decades of intensive research (especially from 1970s to 1990s), the ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) hair root is still largely terra incognita and this simplified guide is intended to revive and promote the study of its mycobiota. Basic theoretical knowledge on the ErM symbiosis is summarized, followed by practical advices on Ericaceae root sample collection and handling, microscopic observations and photo-documentation of root fungal colonization, mycobiont isolation, maintenance and identification and resynthesis experiments with ericoid plants. The necessity of a proper selection of the root material and its surface sterilization prior to mycobiont isolation is stressed, together with the need of including suitable control treatments in inoculation experiments. The culture-dependent approach employing plating of single short (~ 2 mm) hair root segments on nutrient media is substantiated as a useful tool for characterization of Ericaceae root-associated fungal communities; it targets living mycelium and provides metabolically active cultures that can be used in physiological experiments and taxonomic studies, thus providing essential reference material for culture-independent approaches. On the other hand, it is stressed that not every mycobiont isolated from an ericoid hair root necessarily represent an ErM fungus. Likewise, not every intracellular hyphal coil formed in the Ericaceae rhizodermis necessarily represents the ErM symbiosis. Taxonomy of the most important ericoid mycobionts is updated, mutualism in the ErM symbiosis is briefly discussed from the mycobiont perspective, and some interesting lines of possible future research are highlighted.

尽管经过数十年的深入研究（特别是从 20 世纪 70 年代到 90 年代），蓟马菌根 (ErM) 发根在很大程度上仍然是未知领域，本简化指南旨在复兴和促进对其菌根的研究。总结了 ErM 共生的基本理论知识，随后提出了杜鹃花科根部样品采集和处理、根部真菌定植的显微观察和照片记录、真菌生物分离、维护和鉴定以及杜鹃花植物再合成实验的实用建议。强调在分枝菌分离之前正确选择根材料及其表面灭菌的必要性，以及在接种实验中包括适当的对照处理的需要。采用在营养培养基上铺板单个短（约 2 毫米）毛根段的培养依赖方法已被证实是表征杜鹃花科根相关真菌群落的有用工具；它以活菌丝体为目标，提供可用于生理实验和分类学研究的代谢活性培养物，从而为独立于培养物的方法提供重要的参考材料。另一方面，需要强调的是，并非从杜鹃花毛根中分离出的每种真菌生物都一定代表 ErM 真菌。同样，杜鹃花科根皮中形成的每个细胞内菌丝卷也不一定代表 ErM 共生。更新了最重要的环状真菌生物的分类，从真菌生物的角度简要讨论了 ErM 共生中的互利共生，并强调了未来可能研究的一些有趣的方向。