Determination of Water, Solute and Turgor Potentials of Mycelium of Various Basidiomycete Fungi causing Wood Decay

Using thermocouple psychrometry, the water, solute and turgor potentials of hyphae of Phallus impudicus</it> and Serpula lacrimans</it>, cords of P. impudicus, Phanerochaete velutina</it> and S. lacrimans</it> and rhizomorphs of Armillaria mellea</it> were determined. A comparison was made between laboratory- and field-grown cords of P. impudicus</it> and P. velutina</it>. Comparison was made also between the water relations of the hyphae at the growing front, and hyphae of the more distal, basal regions. Similarly, the growing regions of cords/rhizomorphs were compared with the older, non-extending basal regions of the same structures. In all cases gradients of water and turgor potentials were found from basal, older regions to younger, extending regions. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of translocation in fungi.