The effects of a forest fire on soil microfungi

Abstract

The effects of forest fires on the soil mycotlora were investigated in a Pinus contorta forest in Alberta, where it was found that species of Trichoderma and Penicillium were reduced in the burned plot, whereas Gelasinospora sp occurred only in the burned plot: Cylindrocarpon destructans appeared not to be affected by fire. The response of fungi to aqueous extracts of burned and unburned litter, measured as linear growth on agar, showed that, of the isolates tested, all but C. destructans were inhibited by the burned litter extract; C. destructans grew better on the burned litter extract. An examination of spore germination rates and growth in liquid culture showed that Trichoderma polysporum and Penicillium janthinellum were both inhibited by burned litter extracts whereas C. destructans was not. Gelasinospora sp did not grow in liquid culture, nor did it produce spores after being kept in culture for some time. It was concluded that species of Trichoderma and Penicillium were killed by the heat of the fire, and subsequently unable to rccolonize the upper layers of the soil, due to an inhibition of spore germination and growth by the chemical products of burning. C. destructans on the other hand may have been able to recolonize quickly as it appeared to be stimulated in its linear growth rate by the chemical products of burning, and its spore germination rate was only marginally lowered. The occurrence of Gelasinospora sp following fire is possibly explained by its extremely rapid growth rate, and the possibility of its ascospores being more able to withstand high temperatures in the soil. In the light of recent reports, indicating that some species of Trichoderma and Penicillium are actively antagonistic to other fungi, it is suggested that their absence after fire, in the area studied, may permit a high inoculum of C. destructans to develop in the soil, which could possibly result in a high incidence of disease in developing pine seedlings