Spatial Development of Populations of Coriolus Versicolor

Abstract

Summary Various combinations of dikaryons and monokaryons of the wood‐rotting Basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor (L. ex Fr) Quél. were inoculated evenly spaced into Petri dishes containing 3% malt agar, or birch logs placed in a woodland site. The resulting patterns of colonization were similar to those found in natural populations of the fungus, with individual dikaryons present in discrete regions delimited by zones of mutual antagonism. Different dikaryons had similar growth rates and occupied approximately equal areas or volumes when inoculated simultaneously on to agar or into wood respectively. Simultaneous and sequential inoculation of sexually compatible monokaryons on to agar demonstrated that growth rate of the monokaryons and patterns of dikaryotization and nucleus migration between them are likely to be crucial determinants of the spatial distribution of dikaryons in a population. Monokaryons inoculated into logs in the field quickly became dikaryotized, and the resulting dikaryons contained diverse mating‐type factors indicating the presence of a heterogeneous spore rain.

Metabolite profiles of interacting mycelial fronts differ for pairings of the wood decay basidiomycete fungus, Stereum hirsutum with its competitors Coprinus micaceus and Coprinus disseminatus

“…Successions of species of decomposer fungi can be observed on wood and leaf litter in terrestrial ecosystems, usually by the occurrence of fruit bodies of the fungi, but also by temporal changes in the spatial distribution of mycelia within the wood or in the litter on the forest floor (Williams et al 1981;Boddy and Rayner 1983;Hedger 1985). These temporal changes in fungal communities, perhaps lasting decades in the case of large tree trunks (Magnenot 1952), are variable, and have many possible sequences of species, even on the same resource type (Rayner and Boddy 1988).…”

Effects of fungivory by two specialist ciid beetles (Octotemnus glabriculus and Cis boleti) on the reproductive fitness of their host fungus, Coriolus versicolor

“…The mycelium of C. versicolor is restricted to a single log, stump or part of these due to interactions with other individuals of the same or different species (c.f. Williams et al, 1981b). In other words, C. versicolor is a unit-restricted fungus (Cook & Rayner, 1984).…”

SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF A POPULATION OF TRICHOLOMOPSIS PLATYPHYLLA IN A WOODLAND SITE

“…Using this knowledge, Williams, Todd and Rayner (1981) have recently reported on the population dynamics of Coriolus versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel., a polypore causing white rot of hardwoods, which it colonizes predominantly by air-borne basidiospores.…”