The use of high throughput molecular methods that allow for the study of bacterial communities in environmental samples is commonplace in microbial ecology. Until recently, fungal community ecology has
focused on isolation, collection of sporocarps, or collection of ectomycorrhizal roots. The techniques used to extract and amplify DNA from environmental...
Part I. The total synthesis of (+)-leptosphaerin (2), a metabolite of the marine
Ascomycete Leptosphaeria Oraemaris (Linder) was achieved, unambiguously
establishing both the relative and absolute stereochemistry of this natural product. This
synthesis also resolved the long-standing question of which of the isomeric structures 1
or 2 correctly represents the...
Root disease fungi attack and destroy the tree’s root system, resulting in growth loss, decay, death, or wind throw of infected trees. Trees with root disease also are more susceptible to pests, especially bark beetles. On the other hand, root diseases are a component of the forest ecosystem and play...
Oomycetes are an important group of organisms with a variety of ecological roles similar to fungi. Although many are well-studied plant pathogens known for their devastating effects on agricultural systems, most are little-studied saprobes and parasites of plants and animals in nearly every ecosystem on earth. The advent of affordable...
Total length and biomass of fungal mycelium in the soil of a young Douglas-fir stand in the central Oregon Coast Range were estimated over 27 months with the agar-film technique. In a second study, phenology and taxonomy of hypogeous (belowground) sporocarps were studied over 32 months in a nearby, young...
The fungi that cause mold and stain of freshly sawn lumber result in millions of dollars in losses to the forest products industry. Stain and mold are typically prevented by either kiln drying or by application of a topical fungicide. While these treatments are effective, kiln drying is costly and...
Fungi are the primary biological agents of wood deterioration and cause major economic losses of wood products globally. Wood in outdoor applications tends to remain wet for extended time periods, making it susceptible to fungal attack. Understanding the factors involved in fungal colonization of wood is important for developing improved...
Spalting fungi show strong potential as natural colorants on a variety of materials, specifically textiles and wood. Four species of spalting fungi are currently utilized in this manner: Scytalidium cuboideum, which produces a red pigment called draconin red, Scytalidium ganodermophthorum, that produces an unknown yellow pigment, and Chlorociboria aeruginosa and...
Fungal pathogens tend to accumulate within styroblock containers, which are reused to produce successive crops of container-grown seedlings. Most nurseries treat reused containers by immersing them in hot water for varying time periods. The efficacy of radio frequency waves (RFs) to reduce levels of selected groups of fungi within styroblock...
The vast majority of terrestrial plant species live in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF and plants live in complex networks, with roots of individual plants hosting multiple AMF, and single AMF colonizing multiple plants concurrently. Through the exchange of resources, the two partners of this symbiosis can have...