Studies on the Growth of Basidiomycetes in Soil

Abstract

Fructifications of basidiomycetes have been collected at Lakenheath Warren, and thirty-nine species have been obtained from five grassland soils. The different soils have been found to have different species growing upon them and most species occur on the alkaline-slightly acid grasslands. Highly acid grassland at Lakenheath has a poor fungus flora. Studies have been made of the regions in the soil in which the mycelia of certain of these basidiomycetes occur, and attempts have been made to isolate these fungi from soil. Some species have been found to inhabit the litter zone rather than the mineral layers of the soil. A few form extensive rhizomorph systems which may penetrate deeply into the soil. A few species of ring fungi, such as Marasmius oreades, Psalliota arvensis, and Tricholoma nudum, have been found to possess a well-defined mycelial zone in the soil, from which the fungus could be isolated. Profile studies have shown that the mycelial zones of these species contain a restricted population of microfungi, both fewer species and fewer colonies, as compared with the normal soil around. Ascomycetes, such as Arachniotus, Chaetomium, Gymnoascus, and Penicillium, have been isolated more frequently from mycelial zones than from normal soil.