Open AccessA method for the enumeration of myxomycetes in soils and its application to a wide range of soils
Author(s) -
Feest A.,
Madelin M.F.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb01137.x
Subject(s) - soil water , grassland , botany , enumeration , biology , soil science , environmental science , mathematics , agronomy , combinatorics
A standardised most‐probable‐number technique for estimating the number of myxomycete plasmodium‐forming units (PFUs) in soils has been developed and tested experimentally. Application of the method to a local soil showed that the uppermost layers contained the most PFUs. Its application to 44 surface soils from various parts of the world detected myxomycetes in 36, of which 4 were desert soils. In general, highest numbers of PFUs (up to 9000·g −1 soil) were recorded in grassland and agricultural soils. The nature of the PFUs has not been definitely resolved but they are probably myxamoebae, myxoflagellates and microcysts.