Temperature Dynamics of Growth, CO<sub>2</sub> Gas Exchange and Competitiveness of <i>Daedaleopsis confragosa</i> and <i>D. tricolor</i>

Abstract

The temperature dynamics of mycelium growth, СО2 gas exchange and competitiveness of Daedaleopsis confragosa and D. tricolor were analyzed. It has been shown that on agar (MEA) mycelium growth is limited to 5–35°C, and its maximum is observed at 30°C (D. confragosa) – 35°C (D. tricolor). The mycelium СО2 gas exchange at MEA is recorded in the range of 5–50°C, with a maximum for D. confragosa at 35°C and 45°C for D. tricolor. The temperature dynamics of CO2 gas exchange in wood destroyed by D. confragosa and D. tricolor does not fundamentally differ from that of dikaryotic mycelium on MEA: recorded in the same temperature range (5–50°C), the temperature maximum is higher in D. tricolor (40)°C than in D. confragosa (30°C). According to the temperature characteristics of mycelium growth and СО2 gas exchange D. confragosa and D. tricolor can be characterized as mesophilic fungi, but differ in pronounced ecological individuality in relation to low and high temperatures. D. confragosa is characterized by more intensive growth and СО2 gas exchange of mycelium at 5–10°C, and D. tricolor at 35–50°C, which determines the temperature dynamics of their competitiveness: higher in D. confragosa at low, and in D. tricolor – at high temperatures. This corresponds to their geographical distribution: the first one is found in all latitudinal parts of the forest zone, and the second one is absent in its northern part, but common in the southern. According to the geographical and ecological-physiological features, D. tricolor can apparently be considered as the southern subspecies of D. confragosa s.l.