A range of wood inhabiting and wood decay fungi have been studied for their production of extracellular mucilage when grown on inert surfaces, for comparison with their growth on wood. The species tested were: Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, Chaetomium globosum, Trichoderma harzianum, Ceratocystis coerulescens, Ophiostoma piceae, Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp. They were grown on plastic meshes, melinex sheets and glass cover slips and were examined in the freeze dried (FD) and frozen hydrated (FH) conditions. For most of the fungi tested, the ECM production was induced upon contact with the inert surface, although the amount of the ECM produced was far less than that produced by the same fungi in wood. The ECM produced by C. puteana and C. versicolor was similar and more extensive, when compared to that produced by the other fungi. ECM was not produced by Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp.

Download document (1.2 Mb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document