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Dynamics of mycelial growth and phosphorus partitioning in developing mycelial cord systems of Phanerochaete velutina : dependence on carbon availability
Author(s) -
WELLS JOHN M.,
HARRIS MELANIE J.,
BODDY LYNNE
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00397.x
Subject(s) - mycelium , phanerochaete , hypha , phosphorus , biology , botany , horticulture , zoology , chemistry , organic chemistry , lignin
Mycelial cord systems, up to 50 cm in diameter, of the basidiomycete Phanerochaete velutina , a common woodland saprotroph, were grown on unsterile soil in model laboratory microcosms from either 4 or 16 cm 3 wood inocula.After 48 d, systems were supplied at 10‐d intervals with pairs of new 4 cm 3 beechwood resources placed behind the foraging colony margin, where possible on opposite sides of the system. Image analysis was used to quantify radial extension, hyphal cover, the mass ( D BM ) and surface fractal ( D BS ) dimensions of the mycelial systems and wood‐resource bleaching activity. Mycelial systems developing from small inocula had significantly ( P 0.05) lower radial extension rates, hyphal cover and D BM ∶ D BS ratio than those from large inocula. Initially, systems developing from small inocula also displayed significantly ( P <0.05) slower wood‐resource bleaching activity than those from large inocula, suggesting that carbon limitation affected both foraging behaviour and resource utilization. A separate central compartment containing the inoculum was supplied with 32 P orthophosphate and its partitioning amongst wood resources was monitored nondestructively for 44 d. Total 32 P acquisition by wood resources was not significantly ( P >0.05) affected by inoculum resource size. However, the proportion of total acquired P allocated to resources, which varied according to the length of time that resources had been in contact with the mycelium, was dependent upon inoculum size. The results support the hypothesis that phosphorus translocation is not a demand‐driven process. We suggest that the time taken before the greatest rate of phosphorus withdrawal from a uniform translocation stream is dependent upon prior availability of carbon within colonized resources.