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Influence of resource unit distribution and quality on the activity of soil fungi in a particulate medium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2000

G. S. GRIFFITH
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3EB, UK
R. D. BARDGETT
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, University of Lancaster, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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Abstract

Experiments were set up to assess the relative impacts of grass lamina fragment density, size and quality on the activity and growth of four fungi in a particulate soil-like matrix. The fungi studied were Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium lateritium, Phoma exigua and Trichoderma viride, all of which are common inhabitants of UK upland grassland soils. Resource quality was varied by using three contrasting grasses as sources of lamina fragments: Lolium perenne, Agrostis capillaris and Nardus stricta. All the fungi were able to forage effectively through the soil-like matrix (at a rate of 1–2 ml matrix d−1) and colonize and partially decompose available lamina fragments (up to 40% d. wt loss). Foraging rates (ml matrix d−1) were affected by lamina fragment species but not by fragment density or size. In general, F. lateritium and T. viride foraged at a faster rate than the other species. Mycelial activity in the soil-like matrix was directly proportional to total lamina fragment availability and was unaffected by fragment size. Biomass production on solid media was also directly related to substrate (carbohydrate) availability. The results indicate that these fungi can adjust their growth patterns in response to fragment density so as to maximize foraging efficiency (energy acquired per unit exploratory biomass production). Differences in lamina fragment species were responsible for up to 50% reduction in mycelial activity.

Type
Research article
Copyright
© Trustees of the New Phytologist 2000

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