Invasion and colonisation of bamboo culm material by stain and decay fungi

IRG/WP 02-10453

G Kleist, I Morris, R J Murphy

Two distinct stages of the fungal infection of bamboo culms can be identified: entry into the culm itself (invasion) and further colonisation by spread within the culm wall tissue. This laboratory study aimed to characterise different invasion strategies of a variety of fungi. Well-known isolates of white- (Coriolus versicolor, Schizophyllum commune), brown- (Coniophora puteana, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Poria placenta), soft-rotting (Chaetomium globosum) and stain fungi (Lasiodiplodia theobromae) were used as test organisms in culm wall material of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). By giving the fungus defined “entrances” into the specimen and by introducing a “baiting” method, routes of entry taken by fungal hyphae during infection of the culm tissue were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. he results show clearly that typical bamboo decay fungi such as S. commune and C. globosum can infect the fresh, undamaged culms via the dense outer epidermis if growth conditions are optimal. No part of the culm was identified as a barrier. Small bore holes in the epidermis, caused by penetrating hyphae were identified using scanning electron microscopy. It is proposed that this was the main pathway of entry into the culm tissue.


Keywords: Bamboo, Phyllostachys edulis, colonisation, decay fungi, blue stain fungi

Conference: 02-05-12/17 Cardiff, Wales, UK


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