Behaviour of soil fungi in the presence of fungal antagonists

Abstract

Soil-inhabiting fungi are compared with exochthonous fungi in their reaction to fungal antagonism. In certain mixed cultures of fungi of both categories the soil-inhabiting fungi became dominant, and, after several days, demonstration of the presence of the exochthonous fungi became impracticable. Since the inactive spores of the exochthonous fungi were able to retain viability under conditions of more intense antagonism, their lack of success in these cultures is accounted for by the greater activity of the soil-inhabiting fungi. Under conditions which inhibited growth of soil inhabitants, added spores of exochthonous fungi remained demonstrable. It is suggested that the effect of environment on survival of at least some soil fungi is related to their tolerance for activity rather than to their total tolerance.