Mycoparasitism of Coemansia species

The mode of hyphal interaction and parasitism of Coemansia spp., mainly C. aciculifera and C. thaxteri, by Gliocladium roseum, Fusarium flocciferum an d Verticillium psalliotae, species that occurred with the Coemansia spp. in wheat rhizospheres, was observed in mixed cultures on low nutrient medium. Two types of interaction occurred. G. roseum and F. flocciferum coiled rou nd, penetrated and grew within the host's hyphae. V. psalliotae grew parall el to and along the host's hyphae, coiling only rarely, and sometimes forme d thick mycelial layers on the host's sporangiophores. After infection by e ach fungus, the host's hyphae became narrower, collapsed and then disintegr ated. The observations suggest parasitism followed by lysis rather than the involvement of antibiotics.