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FUNGAL GROWTH IN A LATTICE: A TENTATIVE EXPLANATION FOR THE SHAPE OF DIAMOND‐CANKERS IN SYCAMORE
Author(s) -
RAYNER A. D. M.,
BEVERCOMBE G. P.,
BROWN T. C.,
ROBINSON A.
Publication year - 1981
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 - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1981.tb03209.x
Subject(s) - diamond , lattice (music) , diagonal , physics , biology , materials science , botany , geometry , composite material , mathematics , acoustics
SUMMARY The characteristic shape of diamond‐cankers in sycamore may be attributable to spread of fungal infection via the medullary rays. The rays become densely filled with fungal hyphae in infected bark, and when viewed tangentially are arranged in a lattice‐like array with angles between the diagonal rows similar to the apical and side angles of diamond‐cankers observed in the field. Computer simulation has shown how a range of types of random growth processes could result in diamond‐shaped patterns if a fungus spread through such a lattice, with each ray serving as a centre from which its neighbours could become occupied and act in turn as centres.