Ingoldian fungi in terrestrial damp woody litter of five tree species

Abstract

Ingoldian fungi are known to occur beyond their preferred lotic habitats. There are many reports on their occurrence in tree canopies (stemflow, through fall and tree holes) and terrestrial leaf litter. 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 the southwest India, following bubble (2 days) and damp chamber (14 days) incubations of segments of bark and cambium samples. Conidia released into water were trapped using Millipore filters, stained and assessed. Total 30 fungal species were recorded, with a higher species richness in bubble chamber as compared to damp chamber incubation method (25 spp. vs. 18 spp.). The bark samples in bubble chamber incubation method yielded more species than cambium samples (19 spp. vs. 16 spp.). The bark samples in bubble chamber incubation also showed the highest number of exclusive species as compared to cambium samples (8 spp. vs. 6 spp.). Simpson and Shannon diversities were higher in bark samples than cambium samples in 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 same in both samples in bubble and damp chamber incubations, respectively. The bark samples of Terminalia paniculata and cambium samples of Ficus benghalensis showed the highest number of average species in bubble chamber incubation. The bark samples of Acacia auriculiformis as well as F. benghalensis possess the highest number of average species in damp chamber incubation, while the cambium samples of Artocarpus heterophyllus showed the highest number of average species. All tree species showed the higher number of average conidia in bark samples as compared to cambium samples in bubble chamber incubation, with a highest frequency in Anacardium occidentale. The bark of Acacia auriculiformis and cambium of F. benghalensis showed the highest average conidia in damp chamber incubation. Bubble chamber incubation served as a rapid and efficient method of assessment of Ingoldian fungi in damp woody litter.