A filter-paper method for determining the moisture characteristics of soil

Mycelial cord systems of Phanerochaete velutina (DC. : Pers.) Parmasto grown from 4 cm$ inocula on a nutrientdepleted non-sterile soil in compartmentalized laboratory microcosms were baited after 13 d of growth with either fresh, non-sterile 4 cm$ wood blocks or control Perspex2 blocks of the same contact area. After 112 d, mature mycelial systems, which were in senescent phase, were subjected to disturbance by supplying a new fresh wood bait diametrically opposite the existing bait and, after 126 d, to nutrient regime amendment by application of NPK solution. At harvest (186 d) there was a significant (P 0n001) linear relationship between extra-resource mycelial biomass and total wood decay over the preceding 74 d. Nutrient amendment alone did not significantly (P 0n05) affect extra-resource mycelial biomass production or wood decay rates in either disturbed or undisturbed cord systems. However, both mycelial biomass production and resource decay were significantly (P 0n05) enhanced when nutrient amendment and disturbance treatments were applied concurrently. Bi-directional phosphorus translocation to inocula and wood baits (determined non-destructively) was assessed by labelling the NPK solution applied distal or proximal to the initially supplied bait with $#P. In both disturbed and undisturbed cord systems the rate of $#P uptake from a local supply was two orders of magnitude higher than from a distal supply. In disturbed cord systems uptake of $#P by inocula, which were midway between the two radiotracer supply points, was significantly (P 0n05) higher when the supply point contained a newly supplied wood bait. Net translocation of $#P to newly supplied wood baits increased with time at the expense of translocation to inocula and existing wood baits. The switch in direction of net phosphorus translocation, the importance of localized nutrient scavenging and the partitioning of wood decay are discussed in relation to the ecological significance of mycelial cords.

Section: Preparation and Maintenance Of Soil Traysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood decay and phosphorus translocation by the cord‐forming basidiomycete Phanerochaete velutina: the significance of local nutrient supply

Wells¹,

Boddy²,

Donnelly³

1998

“…Woodland litter was removed by sieving to 4-mm mesh, and soil air-dried in gravel trays (Stewart Plastics, Croydon). Air-dried soil (150 g) was rewetted to a matric potential of k0n006 MPa, measured by the method of Fawcett & Collis-George (1967), with either distilled water or distilled water amended with nutrients as described below. This soil was then added to 24-cm bioassay trays (Nunc.…”

Section: Soil Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental and morphological responses of mycelial systems of Stropharia caerulea and Phanerochaete velutina to soil nutrient enrichment

Donnelly

Boddy

1998

Patterns produced by foraging mycelial systems of decomposer fungi might be the visual evidence of strategies for obtaining differently distributed carbon sources. Mycelial systems might also be responsive to unevenly distributed mineral nutrients in the soil. The nature of the mycelial response might differ between species inhabiting eutrophicated disturbed sites, such as Stropharia caerulea (Kriesel), and inhabitants of more typical woodland soils, such as Phanerochaete velutina DC. : (Pers.) Parmasto. We examined the effect of enrichment of soil by addition of different concentrations of N, P and potassium on inoculum decay rate and on extension rate, biomass production and fractal dimension (determined by image analysis) of extra-resource mycelia of S. caerulea and P. velutina extending from wood blocks across compacted non-sterile soil in trays.S. caerulea was more responsive than P. velutina to both type and quantity of soil nutrient enrichment. P. velutina grew more rapidly, produced more biomass and decayed inocula more rapidly than S. caerulea under most conditions, rates of growth and resource decay of the former remaining stable over a range of soil nutrient enrichments. In contrast, morphology of S. caerulea altered on enriched soils compared to controls with greater and more pronounced fanning (divergence of separate hyphae) of the foraging mycelial front. These changes were reflected in fractal values. Extension rate and biomass production of S. caerulea was less than controls on Namended soil, but greater on P-amended soils, with the greatest biomass produced on 0n13-0n27 mg P g −" air-dried soil. Decay rate of inocula was often positively related with mycelial production rates. These responses indicate extra-resource mycelium of S. caerulea is able to respond rapidly to a range of soil nutrient enrichments, and this is discussed in terms of the different foraging strategies exhibited by the two fungi.

“…After removal of leaf and woody litter, the top 10-15 cm of soil was sieved (4 mm mesh) and air dried. The soil matric potential was initially adjusted, by addition of distilled water, to -0-012 MPa, measured using the method of Fawcett & Collis-George (1967).…”

Section: Preparation Of Soil Traysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood decay, and phosphorus and fungal biomass allocation, in mycelial cord systems

Wells

Boddy

1990

SUMMARYWood block inocula, of different decay states, colonized by Phanerochaete velutina (D.C.: Pers.) Parmasto and Phallus impudicus (L.) Pers., were supplied with [^^P]orthophosphate 1 wk after mycelium had made contact with newly supplied sterile wood baits. Inoculum decay state affected the initial pattern of mycelial outgrowth, biomass, phosphorus uptake and subsequent decay rates of newly supplied baits. P. velutina and P. impudicus translocated up to 75 and 13 % respectively of phosphorus accumulated by the inoculum to the new supplied bait, translocation being in proportion to the decay state of the inoculum. On contact with baits, biomass was preferentially allocated to connective rather than non-connective mycelium. This was accompanied by regression of non-connective mycelium, which depended on the decay state of the inoculum. Phosphorus movement via connective cords was up to ten times higher in non-connective cords, maximal rates of 7225 nmol P cm~^ d~^ being recorded for cords from the most decayed P. velutina inocula.