Search

Two studies were undertaken in a young New Zealand Pinus radiata stand to find a biological control agent for armillaria root disease caused by Armillaria novae-zelandiae. Fresh thinning stumps were inoculated with saprophytic basidiomycete species as wooden dowel cultures or as homogenized aqueous mycelial suspensions, while all stumps were also inoculated with dowel cultures of A. novae-zelandiae. After a period of between one and two years, no differences were found among test fungi in the percentage of Armillaria species isolated from stumps. However, inoculation of Stereum sanguinolentum as homogenate, and of Phlebiopsis gigantea, Sistotrema brinkmannii, Hypholoma acutum and Rigidoporus concrescens as dowel cultures, significantly increased their isolation incidence in comparison with stumps not treated by these species. Phlebiopsis gigantea, Resinicium bicolor and R. concrescens were also isolated with greater frequency nearer to their dowel inoculation points. Results suggest that P. gigantea and S. sanguinolentum should be included in further testing. However, a future trial is likely to be more effective if evaluation is directed towards the portion of the stump below the soil surface, particularly the root system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basidiomycete decay fungi present within stems of five rimu trees (Dacrydium cupressinum) uprooted 10 years earlier in southern Westland were investigated by isolating onto a selective culture medium. The most common fungi obtained were Armillaria novae-zelandiae and Ganoderma applanatum, sensu Wakef., while species isolated less frequently included Rigidoporusconcrescens, Hypochnicium polonense and Irpex sp. There were few trends in overall percentage yields of basidiomycetes among trees, discs or radial depths, signifying that colonisation was uniform throughout stems, but A. novae-zelandiae was isolated more frequently from near the surface, while G.cf. applanatum had penetrated right to stem centres. Cultural pairing demonstrated that some vegetative compatibility groups of A. novae-zelandiae extended more than 4.5 m, indicating invasion by mycelial growth along stems, while those of G.cf. applanatum were found in no more than one disc, implying multiple basidiospore colonisation. Results from this and previous studies in the central North Island suggest that these patterns may be typical for fallen rimu in podocarp–hardwood forests over much of New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal decay fungi active within the decomposing stems of six uprooted trees of Beilschmiedia tawa in a dense podocarp forest were determined by isolating onto a culture medium selective for basidiomycetes. The most common fungi obtained were species of Armillaria and Ganoderma applanatum sensu Wakef., a finding consistent with comparable results from other indigenous tree species in earlier central North Island studies. The ascomycete species Kretzschmaria zelandica, present in two of the trees, was obtained only after eliminating benomyl and streptomycin as constituents from the selective culture medium. A previously determined spatial relationship between fruiting by G. cf. applanatum and presence within the stem, as revealed by isolation, was supported in this study. It therefore appears that for B. tawa, also, distribution of fruitbodies is a reliable indicator of internal colonisation by this species [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi were isolated to determine the predominant decomposer species active in the coarse woody debris in a beech forest in the central North Island of New Zealand. Basidiomycetes were obtained in 55% of 4569 isolation attempts from discs cut from six trees each of Nothofagus fusca (Hook. F.) Oerst. and Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. F.) Oerst. uprooted during a storm 24 years earlier. Percentage yields varied significantly among trees but not between tree species. However, for N. fusca, basidiomycetes were obtained less frequently from stems of greater mean diameter. In total, 96% of basidiomycete isolates were composed of 18 species, the most abundant being Armillaria novae-zelandiae (G. Stev.) Herink, mainly present in the outer 12 cm, and Ganoderma cf. applanatum sensu Wakef. and Cyclomyces tabacinus (Mont.) Pat., which penetrated more deeply. These fungi were distributed along the stems as somatically incompatible colonies reaching lengths of 11, 2, and 3 m for each species, respectively; those of G. cf. applanatum were separated by brown pseudosclerotial plates. Fruiting of these species was significantly associated with isolation of cultures and, for G. cf. applanatum and C. tabacinus, provided a reliable guide to stem colonization. Basidiomycete diversity in the Nothofagus stems was greater than in two podocarp species in an earlier study. Data from this investigation are being used to assess how decay fungi, together with other factors, influence rates of decomposition of indigenous coarse woody debris. Des champignons ont été isolés dans le but d’identifier les espèces de décomposeurs qui dominent dans les débris ligneux grossiers d’une forêt de nothofagus située dans le centre de l’île du Nord en Nouvelle-Zélande. Des 4569 mises en culture faites à partir de disques prélevés sur six Nothofagus fusca (Hook. F.) Oerst. et six Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. F.) Oerst. renversés 24 ans auparavant lors d’une tempête, 55% ont permis d’isoler des basidiomycètes. Le pourcentage d’isolats variait significativement d’un arbre à l’autre mais non entre les espèces d’arbre. Cependant, dans le cas de N. fusca les basidiomycètes étaient moins fréquents dans les tiges dont le diamètre moyen était plus grand. Au total, 96 % des basidiomycètes isolés étaient composés de 18 espèces et les espèces les plus abondantes étaient Armillaria novae-zelandiae (G. Stev.) Herink, surtout présent dans les premiers 12 cm à partir de la surface, Ganoderma cf. applanatum (Pers.) sensu Wakef. et Cyclomyces tabacinus (Mont.) Pat., qui pénétraient plus profondément vers l’intérieur. Ces champignons étaient distribués le long de la tige sous forme de colonies incompatibles du point de vue somatique et qui atteignaient pour chaque espèce des longueurs respectives de 11, 2 et 3 m. Les colonies de G. cf. applanatum étaient séparées par des plaques pseudosclérotiques brunes. Il y avait une relation significative entre la fructification de ces espèces et leur isolement en culture, fournissant dans le cas de G. cf. applanatum et de C. tabacinus une indication fiable de la colonisation de la tige. La diversité des basidiomycètes dans les tiges de nothofagus était plus grande que celle qui a été observée chez deux espèces de podocarpe dans une étude précédente. Les données de cette étude sont maintenant utilisées pour évaluer comment les champignons de carie et d’autres facteurs influencent le taux de décomposition des débris ligneux grossiers indigènes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrastructure of endophytic basidiomycetes in two New Zealand species of Aneura and the endemic genus Verdoornia is compared with that in northern hemisphere members of the Aneuraceae. The discovery of a basidiomycete colonization in Verdoornia and a reappraisal of earlier morphological data confirms molecular evidence that this is a derived genus nested within the Aneuraceae rather than a primitive isolated taxon, as considered previously. Throughout the Aneuraceae, the basidiomycetes exhibit similar colonization patterns; initial proliferation of dikaryotic, non-clamp-forming hyphal coils within the host cells is followed by senescence and aggregation of collapsed hyphae into large masses. Multiple cycles of colonization are common. Dolipores with imperforate parenthesomes indicate that the fungi are all heterobasidiomycetes. In line with earlier cross-colonization experiments showing complete host specificity, differences in hyphal diameters and dolipore dimensions suggest that the fungi belong to different taxa. The New Zealand aneuracean fungi have multilayered walls similar to their northern hemisphere counterparts. Within the Aneuraceae there appears to be a trend from very limited or no endophyte colonization in Riccardia to colonization of the entire thallus in Cryptothallus. The cytology of the fungal associations in Aneura and Verdoornia is highly suggestive of mixotrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four species of Favolaschia are accepted for New Zealand: F. calocera, F. pustulosa, and two new species F. cyatheae and F. austrocyatheae. Favolaschia cyatheae, F. austrocyatheae, and F. pustulosa are native to New Zealand. Favolaschia calocera, first described from Madagascar, has also been previously reported from New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Italy. We report a wider geographical distribution for this species. Levels of genetic variation between collections suggest that F. calocera is paleotropical, native to Madagascar, southern China, and Thailand, with recent (probably human-induced) introductions to Norfolk Island, Kenya, Italy, New Zealand, and Réunion Island. ITS sequences show that the tiny monocotyledon-inhabiting F. minima is not a Favolaschia; it is here transferred to Panellus. Taxonomic descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps within New Zealand, and a key to the Favolaschia species known from New Zealand are provided, together with a discussion on past miscitations of the genus Favolaschia and its species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two unusual species of Physalacria from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are described and illustrated. Physalacria pseudotropica from South Island in New Zealand and P. tropica from Papua New Guinea are recorded for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of both varieties of Agaricus urinascens is reported in New Zealand for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]