Decay fungi in decomposing postharvest Pinus radiata root and branch debris

Knowledge of fungal populations decomposing Pinus radiata debris following harvesting may reveal a basidiomycete able to compete with pathogenic Armillaria species or help explain variation in decomposition rates Decay fungi were isolated after 2 or 3 years from buried root segments and branch segments placed on the soil surface at six sites in New Zealand A large variety of decay fungi was obtained different species being isolated at each site as well as from branch versus root segments Communities of decay fungi were more diverse in branches (one species per 101 segments) than root debris (one species per 553 segments) At the same site species tended to differ between spatially separated replicates for branch but not root segments For root segments identical fungi were frequently obtained at different depths in the same replicate This implies that branch segments were colonised separately by airborne spores whereas root segments were exposed to mycelial growth through the soil Few fungi were identified but three Resinicium bicolor Sistotrema sp and Stereum sanguinolentum are common in P radiata woody debris

Morphological and molecular studies on Resinicium s. str.

Resinicium Parmasto is typified by Resinicium bicolor (Alb. & Schwein.: Fr.) Parm., (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota), a readily recognized and widely distributed corticioid, lignicolous species in the northern hemisphere. Five new species of Resinicium closely allied to R. bicolor from the Caribbean region are described and illustrated: Resinicium confertum Nakasone, sp. nov., Resinicium monticola Nakasone, sp. nov., Resinicium mutabile Nakasone, sp. nov., Resinicium rimulosum Nakasone, sp. nov., and Resinicium tenue Nakasone, sp. nov. In addition, R. bicolor and Resinicium friabile Hjortstam & Melo are redescribed and illustrated. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region support the recognition of the new taxa. Further, nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA sequence data support the recognition of two groups of Resinicium species: the Resinicium s. str. group, including R. bicolor, and the Resinicium s.l. group that includes Resinicium furfuraceum (Bres.) Parm. The genus Resinicium is redefined and a key to the Resinicium s. str. species is provided.

Identification of Serpula lacrymans and other decay fungi in construction timber by sequencing of ribosomal DNA – A practical approach

We have approached species identification of wood decay fungi in construction wood by means of sequencing ribosomal DNA. Sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), which includes the 5.8S rDNA, is straightforward and provides a basis for species identification. Identification was either by BLAST search on sequences in GenBank or phylogenetic analysis. A number of important wood decay fungi such asSerpula lacrymans, S. himantioides, Antrodia serialis, A. sinuosa, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Fomitopsis pinicola, Resinicium bicolorandJunghuhnia collabenshave been successfully identified from fruitbodies and directly from wood samples. Sequence variants were found within the species sampled includingS. himantioides, the close relative ofS. lacrymans.But, among 27 samples from fruitbodies and mycelium ofS. lacrymans, unexpectedly, no sequence variation was detected.

Translocation and incorporation of strontium carbonate derived strontium into calcium oxalate crystals by the wood decay fungus Resinicium bicolor

The white-rot wood decay fungus Resinicium bicolor (Abertini & Schwein.: Fr.) Parmasto was studied for its ability to solubilize and translocate ions from the naturally occurring mineral strontianite. Resinicium bicolor colonized a soil mixture culture medium containing strontianite sand, solubilized strontium ions from this mineral phase, translocated the ions vertically, and reprecipitated the strontium into strontium-containing calcium oxalate crystals. Storage of the Sr in crystals was highest in mycelial cords and was dynamic in character. These results suggest that non-mycorrhizal saprotrophic fungi should be evaluated for their potential participation in forest nutrient cycling via biologically weathering parent material and translocating the mobilized mineral nutrients vertically within soils.Key words: fungi, strontium, calcium oxalate, translocation, soil, minerals nutrient cycling.