Studies on certain aspects of root surface fungi III. Effect of harvesting

Abstract

The effect of harvesting oi above ground part on the succession of fungi on crown, middle and distal regions of decomposing roots of <i>Pennisetum typhoides</i> (Burm f.) Stapf et Hubb. was investigated for a period of six months (January to June, 1971). The number of fungal species was generally lower in harvested plants than in standing plants whereas the fungal population exhibited the reverse trend. The amino acids, sugars. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin components of the roots in different vertical regions were assessed and a correlation was established between the above factors and fungal succession in the two sets of plants. It was also noticed that roots in all the depths decomposed earlier than the set where aerial parts were left intact and no phytotoxins were detected in the harvested set against standing one where vanilic acid and 3-4 dihydroxy benzoic acids were chromatogrammed during Maroh and April. The pH and moisture content exhibited a poor correlation with the fungal succession. <i>Deuteromycetes</i> along with few <i>Phycomycetes</i> in the beginning, <i>Deuteromycetes</i> with few <i>Ascomycetes</i> in the second phase and <i>Deuteromycetes</i> along with <i>Mycelia sterilia</i> in the third phase were isolated.