SELECTIVE REPLACEMENT BETWEEN SPECIES OF WOOD-ROTTING BASIDIOMYCETES,A LABORATORY STUDY

Competition and replacement interactions between species of wood-decom posing basidiomycetes were studied with a culture technique using vari ous sized pieces taken from 6 an diam. wood discs as a substrate. Base d on field studies, 17 species of basidiomycetes, either primary decay ers or late successional saprotrophs which show strict dependencies on certain preceding pioneer decayers in the field, were isolated and in oculated on the wood sectors. After precolonization, the sectors were attached to each other pairwise in various species combinations and in cubated on water agar. The discs were regularly inspected and photogra phed for detection of mycelial overgrowth. After 6 months, samples wer e taken from the wood of the sectors and cultured for identification o f prevailing mycelia. Measured by the replacement of opposing fungi, t he selective late successional species are more combative than the pri mary decayers. Species of Antrodiella had the greatest competitive suc cess. The results of our experiment corresponds well with field observ ations and explain, at least partly, the physiological background of t he interactions.