Embedded Files
Ingoldian Fungi in Terrestrial Damp Woody Litter of Five Tree Species
Kodandoor Sharathchandra, Kandikere Ramaiah Sridhar
MycoAsia 2020/07.
https://doi.org/10.59265/mycoasia.2020-07
Abstract
Ingoldian fungi are known to occur beyond their preferred lotic habitats. While their occurrence in tree canopies (stemflow, throughfall, and tree holes) and terrestrial leaf litter has been reported, this study aimed to assess the assemblage and diversity of Ingoldian fungi in terrestrial damp woody litter of five tree species grown in scrub jungles of southwest India. Bubble (2 days) and damp chamber (14 days) incubations were conducted using segments of bark and cambium samples. Conidia released into water were trapped using Millipore filters, stained, and assessed. A total of 30 fungal species were recorded, with higher species richness observed in the bubble chamber incubation method compared to the damp chamber method (25 species vs. 18 species). The bubble chamber incubation method yielded more species from bark samples than cambium samples (19 species vs. 16 species). Furthermore, the bubble chamber incubation method showed a higher number of exclusive species in bark samples compared to cambium samples (8 species vs. 6 species). Simpson and Shannon diversities were higher in bark samples than cambium samples in the bubble chamber incubation, with low Pielou’s equitability. The frequency of occurrence of the top three species (Anguillospora longissima, Flagellospora curvula, and Triscelophorus acuminatus) and top two species (A. longissima and F. curvula) were the same in both bubble and damp chamber incubations, respectively. Among the tree species, the bark samples of Terminalia paniculata and cambium samples of Ficus benghalensis showed the highest number of average species in the bubble chamber incubation. Acacia auriculiformis bark samples and F. benghalensis cambium samples exhibited the highest number of average species in the damp chamber incubation, while Artocarpus heterophyllus cambium samples showed the highest number of average species. All tree species exhibited a higher number of average conidia in bark samples compared to cambium samples in the bubble chamber incubation, with Anacardium occidentale displaying the highest frequency. In the damp chamber incubation, Acacia auriculiformis bark and F. benghalensis cambium samples exhibited the highest average conidia. The bubble chamber incubation method proved to be a rapid and efficient means of assessing Ingoldian fungi in damp woody litter.
Plain Language Summary
Ingoldian fungi are a group of fungi that are normally found in freshwater streams. This research looked for them in an unusual habitat: damp, dead wood on the floor of forests in southwest India. Scientists used two different lab methods to find the fungi in samples from five tree species. A rapid, two-day ‘bubble chamber’ technique proved more efficient than a 14-day ‘damp chamber’ method, finding more species overall. In total, 30 species were identified, confirming these typically aquatic fungi also live on land. Bark samples tended to have a slightly greater variety of fungi than the inner wood.
Report abuse