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- Title
In vitro degradation of the moss by three pleosporalean fungi.
- Authors
Day, Melissa J.; Currah, Randolph S.
- Abstract
Three darkly pigmented species of conidial fungi of the family Pleosporaceae isolated from plants colonizing the Saskatchewan Glacier forefield were examined for potential roles in the degradation of moss gametophytes. and isolated from bryophytes and , respectively, and from were inoculated onto autoclaved gametophytes of the moss Hylocomium splendens. All three species of fungi caused mass losses of the moss gametophytes. In vitro enzymatic tests revealed that all three fungi degraded cellulose, while none degraded insoluble polyphenols. When this material was examined by scanning electron microscopy, it was evident that the fungi had eroded the outer wall layer of the moss leaf cells to some extent but not the inner layer containing more lignin-like compounds. Once the outer wall layer was removed, the cells easily disarticulated. It is proposed that accumulations of these phenolics-rich leaf fragments subsequently ameliorate the rooting environment for vascular plants and have the potential to support the growth of basidiomycetes and other fungi, potentially mycorrhizal with pioneer vascular plants.
- Subjects
PLEOSPORACEAE; BASIDIOMYCETES; COLONIZATION (Ecology); BIODEGRADATION; PHENOLS; MICROBIAL growth; SCANNING electron microscopy
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 2011, Vol 57, Issue 5, p382
- ISSN
0008-4166
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/w11-024