Characteristics of Microflora in Decayed Picea jezoensis Wood Litter.

Abstract

Seedlings of Picea jezoensis (Yezo spruce) are known to survive well on decayed wood whereas those on the ground are apt to die off due to the attack of plant pathogens. Therefore, microfloral characteristics in the decayed P. jezoensis wood were examined in respect to natural regeneration of the forest. Microbial examination of the decayed wood indicated that Gram-positive but not spore-forming bacteria were dominant. As the decayed wood was strongly acidic, the presence of acidophilic microorganisms was surveyed. Actinomycetes was shown to predominate in the surface layer of the deccayed wood. All of the isolates grew in the liquid medium of pH 4.5, but not above 7.5. However, the growth responses to the pH between 3.5 and 6.5 were different among the isolates. Diaminopimelic acid of all the isolates was LL, and menaquinone system was MK-9 with H8, or H8 and Hs. Therefore, all of the isolates were regarded to belong to group streptomycetes. Two thirds of the isolates had cellulolytic activity, and some of them showed antifungal activity against several strains of Fusarium.

Microbial biomass and some biochemical characteristics of a strongly acid tea field soil

“…The relative abundance of fungi in acid soils is well documented (Alexander 1977), although the publications on the participation of actinomycetes in such a strongly acid environment are rathe,-few. However, recently we have detected several acidophilic actinomycetes in the decayed Picea jezoensis wood litter at pH 3.8 to 4.3 (Nioh et al 1992). Acid-tolerant or acidophilic actinomycetes are likely to share some biochemical pathways in acid tea field soils with fungi.…”

“…In addition, some kinds of actinomycetes (Khan and Williams 1975;Nioh et al 1992), archaebacteria (Woese and Fox 1977), and nitrifying bacteria (Hankinson and Schmidt 1988) isolated from several acid environments were found to be acidophilic or acid-tolerant.…”

Succession in myxomycete communities on dead Pinus densiflora wood in a secondary forest in southwestern Japan

“…Moreover, Nioh et al (1992) reported that the pH of wood becomes acidic, and wood-inhabiting bacteria become acid-resistant as wood decay progresses in the conifer Picea jezoensis. We found that the different decay stages of Pinus densiflora wood influenced myxomycete community species Fig.…”

“…In decaying wood, the physical and chemical characteristics of the wood undergo changes over time, and bacteria and nutrient-feeding microbes also change (Ostrofsky and Shingo 1982). Moreover, Nioh et al (1992) reported that the pH of wood becomes acidic, and wood-inhabiting bacteria become acid-resistant as wood decay progresses in the conifer Picea jezoensis. We found that the different decay stages of Pinus densiflora wood influenced myxomycete community species Fig.…”