1993 - Mycological Society of America

Thirtysix different species, including ten undesaibed taxa, have been
recovered from the forest soil in and around the Mayan city. Biotic and
enviro~nental factors of Tikal forest are optimal for dictyostelid
development and growth, where coexistence may occur with little or
no competition. This forest is a refugium for several plant and animal
species and may be a prototypic epicenter of evolution and dispersion
for cellular slime molds. A synopsis is presented of the distribution of
these secondary consumers.
Wednesday, 10:45 am
Studies on Ganodema species of biomedical
importance. 11. Cultivation of Ganodemza species
Alice W. Chen *J. Henson, and "RS. Hseu. Rochester Area
Mycological Assoc., 1730 Penfield Rd. MI, Penfield, NY 14526.
*Long Ridge Farms, Sugar Grove, SC 28679. **Dept. of Agric.
Chem., National Taiwan Univ, Taipai, Taiwan.
In 1971, China first succeeded in producing Gmwdermu basidiocarps
through artificial cultivation. Two decades later, interest has spread
beyond the Orient. Sawdust, long and outdoor cultivation on kee
stumps or wood chip beds have been popular. Procedures for culti-
vation will be given. The shift from vegetative to reproductive phase
seems to parallel conditions favorable to lignin biodegradation. These
factors include growth arrest, low in readily assimilable C source and
N source, and presence of thiamine in the cultivation medium. Calci-
um deficiency and air turbulence are unfavorable for fruiting. Other
important parameters include optimal pH, temperature, moisture, and
aeration. Diffused light is conducive to primordial formation as well as
basidiocarp differentiation. Development of stipes can be regulated by
C02 concentration, while high relative humidity is essential for the
enormous expansion of basidiocarp biomass. For mycophiles, precau-
tions should be taken in outdoor cultivation since Gamdermn spp.
cause white rots of dead and living hardwoods, conifers, and other
plans. By cultivation techniques, research in areas such as morphe
genesis and taxonomy can be facilitated. On the practical side of
biomedical application, cultivation is indispensible for breeding and
production.
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Ecological studies on Ganoderma species with long
spores in Savannah River Site, South Carolina
Nice W. Chen, +K.W. McLeod, and **H.G. Cutler. Rochester
Area Mycological Assoc., 1730 Penfield Rd. #41, Penfield, NY
14526. +Savannah River Ecology Lab., The Univ. of Georgia,
Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29801. **Plant Physiology Unit,
USDA-ARS Russell Res. Center, Athens, GA 30613.
Extensive ecological studies covering 24 hedares were made on Gumdnma
species in Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina. SRS is the
first national environmental partk established in the United States.
Study sites on the structure dnd function of GaMdennn colonization
included both an undisturbed ecosystem and a disturbed ecosystem in
a young pine plantation of Pinus palustris. The plantation was converted
from a Quercus-Pinus mixed woods after site preparations, such
as clear cutting and presaibed burning. A survey o f t r k of sixty
established plots indicated 70-75% Gmrodenna colonization in the disturbed
sites in contrast to only 5% in the undisturbed site. Oak centered
colonization was evident in five additional circular plots. Excavation
of the colonized living roots of Quercus laeDis showed white root
rot. This is the first report if a longspored Gunoh species to associate
with oak Tissue cultures were obtained and used in biodegradation
of a radioactively labelled substrate, (14C lignin).lignocellulose, as
well as on plant-fungus interaction via section elongation bioassay.
Both studies produced positive results.
Wednesday, 8:15 am
Notes on a Ganodema species with long spores,
designated as Ganodemza sp. SRS 8892,
in South Carolina
Alice W. Chen, L.J. Tanghe, and X.W. McLeod. Rochester
Area Mycological Assoc., 1730 Penfield Rd. MI, Penfield, NY
14526. *Savannah River Ecology Lab., The Univ. of Georgia,
Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29801.
A Grmodmnn species with long spores, designated as Ganodermu sp.
SRS 8892, was noted during extekive ecolo$cal studies covering24
hectares in the Sandhills in Savannah River Site, South Carolina. It is
the first long-spored form in the genus reported from the State of
South Carolina. Excavation of the colonized living roots of Qrmcus
l& on the study site shows while root rot, the first record of a long-
spored G unoh species to associate with oak
The fungus differs from the southern long-spored sp&es, G. zonatum
Murr., desuibed by Gilbertson & Ryvarden (1986) in having clavate
pilocystidia with thick walls closely packed in a palisade in the pileate
cutis just below the crust. In contrast, G, zmtum according to Gilbert-
son & Ryvarden, has pilocystidia with cells varying from clavate to
branched or lobed, often with irregular projections from the wall.
A detailed description of the taxon is given based on field studies as
well as laboratory examinations including cultures of different isolates.
Comparison is made with other G m d m species or forms with long
spores.
Poster D8; Sunday pm
~&nt and physiological differences
between isolates of Basidiobolus
Gmberlv Chernov, Diane.TeStrake, and Bruce J. Cochrane.
Dept. of Biology, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620.
As part of an ongoing investigation of genetic diversity among isolates
of the genus Basidiobolus (Entomophthorales: Zygomycotina), we have
analyzed genetic differentiation among saprobic isolates obtained from
a single location in Florida. Data obtained from both restriction analy-
sis of the ITS region of rDNA and RAPD analysis of genomic DNA
indicates the presence of considerable genetic heterogeneity among
these isolates. The question then arose as to whether isolates that could
be differentiated bid on DNA polymorphisms exhibit different
physiological properties as well. We examined growth characteristics
on artificial medium (rate of growth and miaospore formation, pre
duction of extracellular lipases and proteases, temperature resistance,
and hemolytic properties. In addition, we examined isolates maintain-
ed in high growth conditions for a period of4 months to determine
whether genomic rearrangement might contribute to genetic diversity.
Results indicate that genotypic differences are in fact correlated with
physiological ones. Inconhist to saprobic isolates, ones obtained from
human infections are highly homogeneous. We thus suggest that the
genus consists of a large number of types that are genetically and
physiologically distinct, but that only a small, homogeneous subset of
them are associated with infections.
Poster E20; Sunday pm
Some first record species of Trichomycetes
from Taiwan (Formosa)
Chiu-Yuan and Li-Huei Hsieh. Institute of Biological
Sciences, National Taiwan Normal Univ., No. 88 Section 4
Tingchou Road, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
During the last two years, we have collected eight potential hosts from
Taiwan (Formosa). After dissecting animal materials, making slides
and examining fungi and their hosts, our results indicate that Asellaria
l i e and A. annadillidii of the single family Asellariaceae were found