Open AccessTemporary parasitism of Coriolus spp. by Lenzites betulina : A strategy for domain capture in wood decay fungi
Author(s) -
Rayner A.D.M.,
Boddy Lynne,
Dowson C.G.
Publication year - 1987
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.1574-6968.1987.tb02338.x
Subject(s) - parasitism , biology , possession (linguistics) , botany , mycelium , ecology , host (biology) , linguistics , philosophy
Temporary parasitism by individual of the wood‐decaying basidiomycete Lenzites betulina allows them to gain selective access to wood occupied by populations of pioneer basidiomycete colonisers in the genus Coriolus. Pseudotrametes gibbosa is similarly temporarily parasitic on species of Bjerkandera . This strategy facilitates possession by the parasites of a large mycelial domain, which in turn allows them to produce large sporophores with a high reproductive output. This behaviour strongly resembles that of strangler figs and temporary social parasitism in ants.