Diversity of lignicolous basidiomycetes in coarse woody debris

Abstract

Basidiomycetes are the most conspicuous fungi on wood and are the main decomposers. Lignicolous basidiomycetes include white-rotters that remove both lignin and cellulose, and brown-rotters that remove only the cellulose and hemicellulose. The South is a region of diverse lignicolous basidiomycetes because it is the northern limit for many tropical and subtropical taxa and the southern limit for many north temperate taxa. Niches for various taxa are defined by host, substrate, size, and degree of decay. Hence, diversity of these fungi can be enhanced by a mixture of woody angiosperm and gymnosperm debris of different decay and size classes.

Citation

Nakasone, K. K. 1993. Diversity of lignicolous basidiomycetes in coarse woody debris. Biodiversity and coarse woody debris in Southern forests : proceedings of the workshop on coarse woody debris in Southern forests: effects on biodiversity, Athens, GA, October 18-20, 1993. Asheville, N.C. : USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 1996. General technical report SE ; 94.:p. 35-42.