Soil Microfungi Research Articles

Rhizosphere fungal community, soil physicochemical properties, understorey vegetation and their relationship during post-coal mining reclamation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract. Sudrajat, Widhayasa B, Rusdiansyah, Susanto D. 2019. Rhizosphere fungal community, soil physicochemical properties, understorey vegetation and their relationship during post-coal mining reclamation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1953-1962. The objective of this study was to evaluate the composition of fungal community in rhizosphere, understorey vegetation and soil physicochemical properties post-coal mining reclamation. Soil sampling was conducted using a series of reclamation stages plots (undisturbed, disturbed, two, nine, twelves and sixteen years of reclamation) with drill ground at a depth of 0-30 cm. On each plot, five-point drilling was conducted; soil samples were composited; and their physicochemical properties including soil pH, organic carbon, total N, available P, available K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and S content were analyzed. Rhizosphere microfungi were isolated by using serial dilution and plated on potato dextrose agar added with Streptomycin. Identification and characterization of soil microfungi were done with the help of accessible manuals of fungi. The results showed that fungal genera at rhizosphere during post-coal mining reclamation were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cephalosporium, Gliocladium, Humicola, Trichoderma, and Paecilomyces. Aspergillus was dominant comprising 74% of the total isolates. The fungal density in the undisturbed soil and the post-coal mining reclamation soil were higher than in the disturbed soil. The fungal rhizosphere groups isolated were saprophytic fungi that were present in a high relative density. In addition, the results showed that fungal rhizosphere was negatively correlated with soil pH and organic carbon. On the other hand, fungal rhizosphere was positively correlated with total N, available P, and available K. It can be concluded that the time period of post-coal mining reclamation, vegetation, and soil physicochemical profoundly determined the soil fungal community.

Interior of saxicolous lichens on different types of rocks as a habitat for microfungal communities in Upper Galilee, Israel

We examined the diversity and composition of fungi from the interior of saxicolous (rock inhabiting) lichens covering basaltic and chalk rocks at the Alma–Har-Ben-Zimra area of Upper Galilee, Israel. We also compared the composition of lichen-associated and soil microfungal communities inhabiting the two contrasting soil types in the area to trace possible sources of formation of endolichenic fungal assemblages. In the course of the study, 39 fungal species were isolated from the interior of 13 lichen species. Species richness of the endolichenic fungal communities was associated, to some extent, with the growth form of lichens, being higher in those lichens with thick, warted, and wrinkled thalli. Species composition of the communities was characterized by the dominance of melanin-containing microfungi with large, multicellular, and thick-walled spores that significantly increased in abundance in the summer. Dominant species were also known as endophytes and phylloplane-inhabiting fungi; at the same time, typical soil-borne species were extremely rare components of the isolated endolichenic communities. Some endolichenic melanized microfungi were comprised by coprophilous species prevailing in some lichen thalli; this observation was probably due to a long period of use of the studied area for cattle grazing. Protective morphological features are important for fungi inhabiting the interior of lichen thalli characterized by limited nutrient sources, low-water availability, and restricted aeration. In addition, endolichenic fungi should resist the activity of various extracellular secondary metabolites produced by their host lichen species.

Soil translocation at “Evolution Canyon” I (Mount Carmel, Israel) reveals the importance of microclimatic variation for structuring soil microfungal communities

An experimental study involving the translocation of soil from the south-facing, tropical, savannoid, “African” slope (AS) to the north-facing, temperate, forested “European” slope (ES), 250 m apart, and vice versa, was performed at “Evolution Canyon”, Mount Carmel, Israel. The purpose of the study was to explore whether the new microclimatic conditions would affect community structure of culturable fungi. The translocation of soil from the AS to the ES significantly decreased the abundance of xeric and thermotolerant components of microfungal communities – melanin-containing fungi and Aspergillus spp. Simultaneously, the mesic component – Penicillium spp, increased in the abundance. The translocation also caused substantial increases in abundance of fast-growing mycoparasitic Clonostachys rosea and Trichoderma koningii, which are known to produce toxic secondary metabolites and grow over other fungi in culture. High abundance of these species apparently caused the significant decrease in species richness in the AS-to-ES translocated communities and made these communities more similar to the native ES communities as the cluster analysis revealed. Notably, the translocation from the xeric south-facing AS to the temperate north-facing ES caused more substantial changes in the microfungal communities as compared to the opposite soil translocation. The results of the study clearly indicated that translocation of the soil to the opposite slopes of “Evolution Canyon” had changed the community structure of microfungal communities, and these changes were apparently driven by variation in environmental conditions.

English

We investigated the effect of cocoa farming on biodiversity and ecosystem services under different cocoa management systems. The study was carried out in three cocoa producing districts in southwestern Ghana using Y-frame sampling scheme. Five 25 m × 25 m size plots were demarcated at 100 m intervals along in the cocoa farms and the natural forest reserves. Fifteen plots were demarcated in the cocoa farms per community giving a total of 90 plots. Significant decrease in tree species diversity and soil microfungi diversity were recorded in the intensive cocoa farmland compared traditional cocoa and natural forest. Soil invertebrate species diversity was high in traditional cocoa farms than in natural forest. Shaded litter fall production declined in the different cocoa management systems. Total nitrogen content and phosphorus were high in intensive cocoa farms and low in the natural forest. Soil organic carbon was high in the natural forest and low in the intensive cocoa farms. Total litter mass was high in the traditional cocoa farms and low in natural forests. The magnitude of carbon stocks decrease in the cocoa farms compared to the natural forest. For a successful cocoa production, shaded cocoa agroforest system must be encouraged in order to ensure biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and a sustainable management of cocoa farmlands to check global climate change. Key words: Agricultural intensification, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, deforestation.

Influence of Environmental Factors on the Structure of Soil Microfungi of Vietnamese Tropical Forests

Results of a multiyear complex study of species diversity, features and patterns of distribution, substrate colonization, and ecology of soil microscopic fungi in the lowland, piedmont, and mountain monsoon rain forests of Vietnam are presented for the first time. In 97 forest habitats studied within 13 specially protected areas of Vietnam in the Northern, Central, and Southern parts of the country, 510 species of micromycetes from 148 genera have been identified. The influence of environmental factors (climatic features, relief, soils, forest types, etc.) on the formation of complexes of micromycetes has been analyzed. As a result, the dependence of the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) on the type of the substrate and the season (wet/dry) is established: significantly more species are detected in the dry season (October–March) (p < 0.05) in comparison with the wet one; many species are associated with certain plant species. Indicators of species diversity decrease with an increase above sea level altitude (p < 0.01). Herewith, the ratio of the taxonomic groups of micromycetes also consistently changes. A latitudinal–zonal trend of the change of the species composition of microscopic fungi, determined by a combination of environmental factors, has been revealed.

Neodendryphiella, a novel genus of the Dictyosporiaceae (Pleosporales)

In a survey of soil and herbivore dung microfungi in Mexico and Spain, several dendryphiella-like species were found. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and LSU sequences showed that these fungi belonged to the family Dictyosporiaceae (Pleosporales) and represent an undescribed monophyletic lineage distant fromDendryphiella. Therefore, the genusNeodendryphiellais proposed to accommodate three new species,N.mali,N.michoacanensisandN.tarraconensis. The novel genus shares morphological features withDendryphiellasuch as differentiated conidiophores and polytretic integrated conidiogenous cells, that produce acropetal branched chains of conidia.Neodendryphielladiffers in the absence of nodulose conidiophores bearing conidiogenous cells with pores surrounded by a thickened and darkened wall, typical features in the conidiogenous apparatus ofDendryphiella. In addition, the phylogenetic and morphological analysis of several reference strains of differentDendryphiellaspecies, available for comparison, support the proposal ofD.variabilissp. nov., which mainly differs from the other species of the genus by having conidia up to 7 septa and highlight thatD.vinosaandD.infuscansare obscure species that require further taxonomic review.

Effects of temperature on extracellular hydrolase enzymes from soil microfungi

Soil microbes play important roles in global carbon and nutrient cycling. Soil microfungi are generally amongst the most important contributors. They produce various extracellular hydrolase enzymes that break down the complex organic molecules in the soil into simpler form. In this study, we investigated patterns of amylase and cellulase (which are responsible for breaking down starch and cellulose, respectively) relative activity (RA) on solid media at different culture temperatures in fungal strains from Arctic, Antarctic and tropical soils. Fungal isolates from all three regions were inoculated onto R2A media supplemented with starch for amylase and carboxymethylcellulose and trypan blue for cellulase screening. The isolates were then incubated at 4, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C and examined for activity after 5 and 10 days, for tropical and polar isolates, respectively. The data obtained indicate that the polar fungal strains exhibited similar patterns of amylase and cellulase RA. Both Arctic and Antarctic fungi showed highest RA for amylase and cellulase at 35 °C, while colony growth was maximised at 15 °C. Colony growth and RA of the polar isolates were negatively correlated suggesting that, as temperatures increase, the cells become stressed and have fewer resources available to invest in growth. Unlike polar isolates, tropical isolates did not exhibit any trend of colony growth with temperature, rather having idiosyncratic patterns in each isolate. The low enzyme production and RA levels in the tropical strains may suggest both a low ability to respond to temperature variation in their natural thermally stable tropical habitats, as well as a level of thermal stress limiting their enzyme production ability.

Diversity and distribution of soil micro-fungi along an elevation gradient on the north slope of Changbai Mountain

Elevational changes in patterns of diversity are important to understanding of the influence of global changes, yet few studies have addressed the distribution of microorganisms, e.g. soil micro-fungi. We studied the diversity of the forest soil micro-fungi in four vegetation belts along an elevation gradient on the north slope of Changbai Mountain in Changbai National Nature Reserve. The four belts were characterized as coniferous–deciduous mixed forest, coniferous forest, Erman’s birch forest, and alpine tundra. We estimated the quantity and distribution of the fungal species in each belt and calculated three indices, viz. Shannon–Wiener diversity (H′), Pielou’s evenness (J′), and Margalef’s abundance (E), to depict fungal species diversity. A total of 932 strains were recorded and identified, representing 53 genera, and 108 species. Among these, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Mucor, Rhizopus and Fusarium were the dominant genera. With increasing elevation, the quantity of fungi and values of H′, E, and J′ gradually declined.

English

Soil is an oligotrophic medium for fungal growth. F ungi are important component in soil microbiota. Depending on soil depth and nutrient co nditions, the fungal biomass exceeds that of bacteria in almost every soil except rhizosphere so il which is dominated by bacteria. Filamentous fungi in soil degrade organic matter and help in so il aggregation. Some produce substances similar to humic substances and some are capable of forming ectotrophic associations on the root system of forest trees and help in mobilisation of soil phosp horus and nitrogen into plants. Many fungi are biological control agents for plant pathogens and i nsect pests. In Uttarakhand especially in Dehradun District very scanty information is availa ble regarding soil inhabiting microfungi of Agricultural fields. Therefore some agricultural la nds growing Brassica crop were selected to study the composition, dominance and diversity of microfu ngi and physico-chemical properties of the soil inhabited by these fungi. Five agricultural lands viz. Rajawala (RAJ), Bahada rpur(BAH), Bhauwala (BHAU), Telpura (TLP) and Sudhowala (SUDH) were selected. Each land was s urveyed repeatedly to collect soil samples. Soil samples were collected from different depths v0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm, 15-20 cm. and 2025 cm and composite samples were made for each agri cultural land. For all soil samples examined, pH varied from 6.42± 1.24 to 7.84±1.56; moisture content varied from8.42±1.68 to 10.84±2.16; organic contents varie d from 1.55 to 3.00 and texture varied from sandy to sandy loam. Micronutrients were very high in all the soil samples. A total of 383 colonies of microfungi belonging to 11 genera and 26 species we re isolated. Anamorphic fungi (Deuteromycota) were dominant and represented by 9 genera and 22 sp ecies followed by Zygomycota represented by 2 genera and 4 species. Fungal populations were alw ays highest in surface soil and decreased along with soil-depth. Maximum fungal species were isolat ed from BAH at the depth of 0-10 cm followed by RAZ, whereas the minimum fungal species were iso lated from BHAU, TPR and SUDH at the depth of 15-20 cm. Of the total 26 species recorded , 8 species were of common occurrence, 9 species of frequent, 8 species of moderate and 1 species of rare occurrence respectively. Shanon- Wiever index of species diversity was highe st (2.734) in BAH followed by RAZ (2.686), TLP (2.583) and SUDH (2.553) while it was lowest for BH AU (2.540). Simpson index of diversity also showed identical trends. Highest similarity (84.2%) was observed between RAJ and BAH and lowest (55.6%) between RAJ and TLP. The present investigation will be helpful in docume ntation and conservation as well as in controlling soil borne pathogens. Further, it certainly opens u p a new horizon for the researchers in this interesting and challenging field of soil microfung al biodiversity.

Fungal biodiversity in the periglacial soil of Dosdè Glacier (Valtellina, Northern Italy).

Periglacial areas are one of the least studied habitats on Earth, especially in terms of their fungal communities. In this work, both molecular and culture-dependent methods have been used to analyse the microfungi in soils sampled on the front of the East Dosdè Glacier (Valtellina, Northern Italy). Although this survey revealed a community that was rich in fungal species, a distinct group of psychrophilic microfungi has not been detected. Most of the isolated microfungi were mesophiles, which are well adapted to the sensitive climatic changes that occur in this alpine environment. A discrepancy in the results that were obtained by means of the two diagnostic approaches suggests that the used molecular methods cannot entirely replace traditional culture-dependent methods, and vice versa.

A method to evaluate relative ovicidal effects of soil microfungi on thick-shelled eggs of animal-parasitic nematodes

Thick-shelled eggs of animal-parasitic ascarid nematodes can survive and remain infective in the environment for years. The present study evaluated a simple in vitro method and evaluation scheme to assess the relative effect of two species of soil microfungi, Pochonia chlamydosporia Biotype 10 and Purpureocillium lilacinum Strain 251 (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), on the development and survival of eggs of faecal origin of three ascarid species, Ascaridia galli (chicken roundworm), Toxocara canis (canine roundworm) and Ascaris suum (pig roundworm). Ascarid eggs were embryonated on water agar with or without a fungus, and the resulting viability of the eggs was evaluated on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 post exposure (pe) by observing eggs in situ. On days 7–42 pe, P. chlamydosporia had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by 64–86% and 26–67%. Corresponding reductions for P. lilacinum Strain 251 were only 15–29% and 4–28%. In contrast, A. suum eggs were extremely resistant to both fungi (2–4% reduction). The differences in results are likely due to different morphologies and chemistry of the egg shell of the three ascarid species. The current in vitro method and evaluation criteria allow for a simple, repeatable and non-invasive evaluation of the ovicidal effects of microfungi. This study demonstrates that P. chlamydosporia Biotype 10 may be utilised as a biocontrol agent to reduce A. galli and T. canis egg contamination of the environment.

Influence of sand burial on cultivable micro-fungi inhabiting biological soil crusts

Abstract We examined the influence of sand burial of 0.5-mm and 10-mm depths on micro-fungal communities inhabiting moss-dominated and mixed biocrusts in the vicinity of the Shapotou Research Station in the Tengger Desert, China. The buried communities were compared with those in unburied crusts, as well as with the sandy below-crust and topsoil communities. We isolated 65 fungal species belonging to 43 genera using the soil dilution plate method. Compared to the unburied communities, the buried crust communities were characterized by lower abundance of melanin containing species, especially those with large many-celled conidia, but higher abundance of species producing small light-colored and one-celled conidia, mainly mesophilic Penicillium spp. Sand deposition also caused reduction of isolate density that was more pronounced in the mixed crusts. Diversity characteristics of micro-fungal communities and isolate densities varied in the two crust types in response to the same level of sand burial. This difference between the mixed and moss-dominated crusts was less expressed when the communities had been subjected to the deep sand burial. Below-crust sandy communities showed a more significant decrease both in isolate density and species richness compared to buried crust communities, which was accompanied by the substitution of dominant species – the thermotolerant Aspergillus fumigatus in the subcrust sandy layers instead of melanized species with large multicellular conidia in the crusts. On the whole, the influence of sand burial on crust micro-fungal communities was likely associated with the shielding effect of sand layer which might protect the crust layer from evaporation and UV-radiation. Whereas sand deposition in the crusts partly changed the substrate quality and microclimatic conditions for soil micro-fungi, transition from the crust to the below-crust sandy layer much more substantially altered the environmental situation (mainly in nutrient status, from the comparatively rich organic crust layer to the poor mineral sandy layer) thus leading to the more significant changes in the micro-fungal communities.

Microfungi from soils оf Heiss Island (Franz Joseph Land)

The complexes of soil microfungi of Heiss Island (Franz Joseph Land) in natural (upland) coenoses and coenoses affected by anthropogenic pollution were studied. Total 39 microfungi species were identified. Most species belong to ascomycetous anamorphic fungi. Most isolates are represented by species of Acremonium, Cadophora, Cladosporium, Geomyces, Mortierella, Phialophora, Phoma and Thelebolus and attributed not to psychrophilic strains, but to psychrotrophic ones that can grow in a wide range of temperatures. Low number of colony-forming units (from 50 to 1200 CFU per 1 g of soil) and limited species composition are typical of natural coenoses of polar desert. The soil mycobiota structure was changed under the influence of anthropogenic factors.

Fungal diversity of twelve major vegetational zones of Arunachal Himalaya, India

Soil microfungal diversity was studied with the objective to investigate variations in fungal communities along 12 diverse vegetation zones located at different altitudinal gradients in Arunachal Pradesh and to check whether the environmental conditions have an effect on the soil fungal community. Ten soil samples were collected from 0-30cm depth in each forest type and their physico-chemical properties such as pH, temperature, bulk density and organic carbon content analyzed using standard techniques. Serial dilution methodology was used for the isolation of soil fungi in Rose Bengal agar media. A total of 112 fungal types under 59 genera and 88 species were recorded from the selected soils. Altitudinal gradient and bulk density was found to have a negative effect, while soil temperature and soil pH had positive effects on the soil fungal communities. Subtropical evergreen forests showed maximum fungal diversity followed by tropical evergreen forests. Overall, Oidiodendron followed by Acremonium, Cladosporium, Humicola, Aspergillus and Penicillium were found dominant fungal genera in majority of soil samples. Distribution of Beauveria, Blastomyces, Cercospora, Metarrhizium and Rhizomucor were limited to particular soil type. Altitudinal gradient together with associated vegetation and soil physico-chemical parameters determine soil fungal distribution.

Effects of irrigation with treated agro-industrial wastewater on soil chemical characteristics and fungal populations during processing tomato crop cycle

This study was carried out in 2012 at Stornarella (Italy; 41° 15’29 N; 15° 43, 56 E; 154 m a.s.l.). We investigated the effects of reuse of secondary treated agro-industrial wastewater for irrigation, in comparison with conventional groundwater, and we monitored soil chemical characteristics and fungal populations during the crop cycle of processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Compared to the groundwater, the wastewater had significantly higher electrical conductivity, total suspended solids, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium adsorption ratio, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand over five days, ammonium-nitrogen, phenols, bicarbonates, phosphates, sulphates and chlorides. Most of these parameters were significantly greater also in the wastewater-irrigated soil. During the tomato crop cycle, there were significant shifts in the structure of the soil microfungal community. Saprophytic species increased in the wastewater-treated soil, while phytopathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum progressively decreased. More investigations into the mechanisms by which wastewater acts on disease suppression is needed to make the use of such wastewaters more predictable. The irrigation water source did not significantly affect the qualitative traits of the crop yield. For both irrigation treatments, the most important qualitative parameters that characterized the processing tomato fruit (i.e., dry matter content, pH, soluble solid content, colour parameters) were in agreement with reports in the literature.

Influence of wildfire on diversity of culturable soil microfungal communities in the Mount Carmel forest, Israel

The fire-related variations in culturable microfungal communities in the soil of the Mount Carmel forest, Israel, were examined by comparing the communities from burned and adjacent unburned soil plots under pine and oak trees – collected 6, 18, and 26 months after the fire. A total of 82 species representing 44 genera were isolated using the soil dilution plate method. The results showed that the fire had strongly influenced the composition and structure of microfungal communities. The fire remarkably changed physical and chemical properties of the environment, decreasing water holding capacity, organic matter and total nitrogen content in the burned soil. These changes supported abundant development of fast-growing mycoparasitic species (Clonostachys rosea and Trichoderma spp.) and caused significant decrease in species richness. The variations in community composition were much more expressed in the burned soils under oak vegetation as compared with the pine trees. In the oak burned soils, the contribution of the “mesic” component, Penicillium spp., was markedly lower, whereas the contribution of the “xeric”, stress-selected component, melanin-containing species, was higher than in the unburned communities. Such variations can be also considered as a community response to the fire-related decrease in water and nutrient content in the burned soils.

Microfungi in the soil of Scots pine forest in Poland and Germany

The soil microfungi in two 17-year-old Scots pine forest soils were surveyed. One forest was located in Poland, and the other in Germany,300 km apart. The total number of fungal taxa detected was 55 and included 11 zygomycetes, 1 ascomycete and 43 mitosporic fungi. From the Polish and German soils, 145 and 122 isolates representing 43 and 32 fungal species, respectively, were recorded. The most common genera were &lt;i&gt;Penicillium&lt;/i&gt; (25% and 44%) with 11 and 8 species, &lt;i&gt;Umbelopsis&lt;/i&gt; (15% and 14%) with 2 species, &lt;i&gt;Oidiodendron griseum&lt;/i&gt; (10% and 9%), &lt;i&gt;Mortierella&lt;/i&gt; (8% and 3%) with 4 and 2 species, and &lt;i&gt;Trichodemta&lt;/i&gt; (6% and 2%) with 3 and 2 species, in the Polish and German soils, respectively. Only 18 taxa (32.7%) were recorded in both soils. Twenty five separate taxa (45.5%) were re00rded only in the Polish, and 12 taxa (21.8%) only in the German soil. Three dominant species, with percentage &gt; 3% in the fungal community, found in both soils were &lt;i&gt;Umbelopsis vinacea&lt;/i&gt; (13.8% and 8.2%), &lt;i&gt;Oidiodendron griseum&lt;/i&gt; (10.3% and 9%) and &lt;i&gt;Penicillium janczewskii&lt;/i&gt; (3.4% and 11.5%). The small number of fungi shared by both soils contributes to the opinion that there is a high species diversity among the microfungi in one European Scots pine forest soil ecosystem.

Diversity of Soil Microfungi in Pine Forest at Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

The soil microfungi inhabiting pine (Pinus brutia Tern.) forests in Atrush and Zawita, Duhok governorate(Kurdistan region),Iraq were examined by using five isolation methods with the objective to compare the diversity of soil microfungi at O1 and O2 soil horizon layers from both sites. A total of 26 genera and 51 species of soil fungi as well as yeasts and non- sporulating mycelia were isolated from the two sites. Aspergillus was represented by 17 species and thus showed the widest diversity among all recovered genera. A.niger and A.fumigatus were the most frequent species among the genus. Black aspergilli were the most common species among the genus. They were represented by five species viz A.awamori, A.foetidus, A niger, A. sclerotioniger and A.vadianes. Penicillium was the second in the number of species isolated and was represented by 6 species. These include P. cammeberti, P. citrinum, P. coryophilum, P. digitatum , p. glabrum and P. roquefotri.. Two species were identified in each of the genera Absidia, Cladosporium, Emericella, Mucor and Paecilomyces. The rest genera that included Alternaria, Cunnighamella, Chaetomium, Corynascus, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Gymnoascus, Melanocarpus, Monilia, Pestatiolopsis, Phaeoacremonium , Phialophora, Rhizopus, Sordaria, Stachybotrys, Scytalidium, Thermomyces, Trichoderma and Ulocladium were each represented by one species. The highest similarity index for fungal community inhabiting soil at both sites was found in soil at O1 layer (Atrush) and O2 layer (zawita).The least (SI) was recorded between O1 layer (Zawita) and O2 layer (Atrush). Absidia spinosa, and Mucor plumbeus are newly recorded from Iraq; hence they represent new additions to the Iraqi mycobiota.

Ecological factors governing the distribution of soil microfungi in some forest soils of Pachmarhi Hills, India

An ecological study of the microfungi occurring in the various forest soils of Pachmarhi Hills, India has been carried-out by the soil plate technique. Soil samples from 5 different forest communities viz., moist deciduous forest dominated by tree ferns, &lt;em&gt;Diospyros&lt;/em&gt; forest, &lt;em&gt;Terminalia&lt;/em&gt; forest, &lt;em&gt;Shorea&lt;/em&gt; forest and scrub forest dominated by Acacia and Dalbergia sp. were collected during October, 1983. Some physico-chemical characteristics of the soil were analysed and their role in distribution of fungi in 5 soil types was studied and discussed. 43 fungal species were isolated, of which &lt;em&gt;Asperigillus niger&lt;/em&gt; I and &lt;em&gt;Penicillium janthinellum&lt;/em&gt; occurred in all the 5 soil types. Statistically, none of the edaphic factors showed positive significant correlation with the number of fungi.

On ecology of post-fire soil fungi: assessing impact of disturbance using species-abundance models as measure of community organization

Mediterranean ecosystems are among those most significantly modified by fires. Such fires lead to evident disturbance of the above- and below-ground ecosystem components, at various spatial and temporal scales, including soil microfungi. The ecological parameters used to measure the effects of disturbance on soil fungal communities include species-abundance distribution patterns, which reflect changes in the relationships between species numbers and their relative abundance, and serve as a critical measure of community organization. Species-abundance distribution patterns were used to assess the disturbance impact of experimental fires on soil fungal communities in Mediterranean maquis (southern Italy) in the short- to mid-term. The trend in the distribution patterns of heat-stimulated and xerotolerant soil fungi over time, their varying responses to low- and high-intensity fire, the efficiency of the soil germplasm bank, and the pivotal role of Neosartorya spp. in post-fire community structure in Mediterranean burned soils may all be used as tools to accurately assess the effects of fire on soil mycobiota.