EFFECT OF SOIL AND LITTER TYPE ON OUTGROWTH PATTERNS OF MYCELIAL SYSTEMS OF PHANEROCHAETE VELUTINA

The outgrowth patterns of Phanerochaete velutina from woody resources varied depending on the soil/litter type. There were clear differences in mycelial extension rate, time between contact with and emergence f rom baits, mycelial biomass, and extra-resource mycelial responses to contact with new resources depending on soil type, though there was li ttle difference between fractal dimension, i.e. space filling, of myce lia with time or soil/litter type. In a few replicates, particularly i n components from the Lawson's cypress stand, mycelia sometimes became brownish colour, ceased growth and eventually disintegrated. In litte r the pattern of mycelial development was quite different from that in soil due to subsurface growth in which needles were often colonised. In humus, mycelial development was somewhat similar to that in soil.