Development of Fungal Communities on Herbaceous Stems and Grasses

Abstract

The annually produced leafy stems of small plants offer a practical opportunity for studying the effects of physical variables and differences in age of leaves and shoots on the development of fungal communities on whole plants. Few, however, have attempted any detailed comparative studies of this nature and in this respect the investigations of Webster (1956, 1957) on Dactylis glomerata remain exemplary. This grass, com-monly known as cocksfoot, increases in size annually by means of tillers. These form during the growing season from buds at the base of the shoots and overwinter as a number of short internodes with a large number of associated leaves that collectively form a large basal tussock. In the following spring new shoots develop by the expansion of some of the basal internodes of the tiller. Each expanded shoot consists of about six internodes, the developing inflorescence and a corresponding number of leaves. The latter are typical of grasses and are joined to a leaf sheath which is attached at a node and partially encircles the stem. At maturity the stem with its inflorescence stands about 100 cm above the ground and is consequently more exposed to climatic changes at the top than at the base in the tussock.