Abstract
Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity directly affect the growth and fruit bodies of fungi. We studied the diversity of wood decaying fungal species, which have grown on same substrate in forest as well as laboratory environment. Ten specimens of fruit body of wood-decaying fungi and 24 random pieces of coarse wooden debris were collected from the forest of northwest Arkansas. The samples of coarse woody debris were incubated in laboratory-growth chambers for two months to promote the fungal growth. Fourty-two different species of wood-decay fungal isolates were recovered and identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing. The isolates from the forest belonged to twenty-two different taxa whereas twenty taxonomic groups were reported from the growth compartments. Remarkably, data observed from two sets did not shared any taxon. These results indicated that environmental growth conditions play crucial role on fungal diversity even if grown on same substrates.
Highlights
Wood-saprophytic fungi play significant role within the functioning of forest ecosystems (Lonsdale et al, 2008)
We studied the diversity of wood decaying fungal species, which have grown on same substrate in forest as well as laboratory environment
Twenty-two fungal sp were confirmed as field set, while 20 fungal sp were confirmed from the growth chambers
Summary
Wood-saprophytic fungi play significant role within the functioning of forest ecosystems (Lonsdale et al, 2008) They provide a sustainable habitat for several other species, are directly involved in nutrient cycling and through the removal of coarse woody debris literally set the stage for the restoration of forests around the world. In a forest ecosystem, coarse woody debris facilitates seedling survival by its capacity for moisture retention, serves as barrier for soil-borne pathogens and represents a major source for the nutrients required for plant growth and development. These factors facilitate the occurrence of mycorrhizal fungi (Miller, 1995). The process of wood decay involving different substrates is fundamental for the formation of different ecological niches of the species involved, which show wide variety of potential decay pathways based on variety inherent in the substrates available (Odling-Smee et al, 2003)
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