The effect of ecological disturbance on competition between Crinipellis perniciosa and other tropical fungi

Abstract

SynopsisIsolates of the tropical fungus Crinipellis perniciosa obtained from cocoa and lianas in Ecuador were grown on media ranging from −0.45 MPa to −9.0 MPa water potential and their responses compared to those of other agarics and Xylaria species isolated from cocoa. Antagonism between mycelia of C. perniciosa and these isolates was also assessed over the same range of water potentials. It is hypothesised that C. perniciosa and other canopy inhabiting fungi of tropical forests are adapted to water stress, but are not competitive with fungi which colonise later, following litterfall, from lower litter and soil horizons, where water availability is higher. Xylaria spp. proved to be aggressive antagonists of C. perniciosa over a range of water potentials.