Fungal succession on woody litter of Magnolia liliifera (Magnoliaceae)

Abstract

Fungal succession (sequential occurrence of sporulating fungi) on wood baits of Magnolia liliifera (Magnoliaceae) was investigated at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand by studying changes in fungal communities on wood placed on the forest floor over a 29 month period of decomposition. Pioneer, mature and impoverished stages comprising distinct fungal communities were observed. A total of 163 sporulating taxa were recorded (114 anamorphic taxa, 46 ascomycetes and 3 basidiomycetes). The observed fungal diversity was high when compared to other studies. The number of fungal species was highest during the mature stage of wood decomposition. Anamorphic fungi were the dominant group on wood baits throughout the experiment. Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Nectria coccinea were regular inhabitants on wood throughout the study and were found on wood samples up to 10 sampling times. Canalisporium pallidum, Dactylaria hyalina, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Nectria coccinea and Xylaria carpophila dominated the fungal communities during the various stages of the decomposition period. Chloridhim botryoideum, Dactylaria hyalina, Nectria coccinea, Volutella ramkumarii and Xylaria carpophila were common overlapping species identified at all three stages of succession. Fungal diversity on naturally occurring samples was higher than on bait samples and overlap of species among them was low.