Fungal Wars Effects of Nutrient Environment on Soil Fungal Interactions
(2023) BIOM02 20232Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- This study investigates the underlying mechanisms of the ‘Gadgil effect’, a phenomenon where competition between ectomycorrhizal (EM) and saprotrophic fungi suppresses the growth of saprotrophic fungi. The findings showed that nutritional conditions and fungal habitats significantly influence fungal interactions and their outcomes. Under conditions of both nitrogen-rich and scarce environments, EM fungi demonstrated enhanced growth and suppressed the growth of saprotrophic fungi, thereby exhibiting a potential mechanism of the ‘Gadgil effect’. On the contrary, under a glucose-rich condition, saprotrophic fungi showed increased competitiveness. As a growth strategy on agar plates, EM fungi developed dense mycelium across all treatments,... (More)
- This study investigates the underlying mechanisms of the ‘Gadgil effect’, a phenomenon where competition between ectomycorrhizal (EM) and saprotrophic fungi suppresses the growth of saprotrophic fungi. The findings showed that nutritional conditions and fungal habitats significantly influence fungal interactions and their outcomes. Under conditions of both nitrogen-rich and scarce environments, EM fungi demonstrated enhanced growth and suppressed the growth of saprotrophic fungi, thereby exhibiting a potential mechanism of the ‘Gadgil effect’. On the contrary, under a glucose-rich condition, saprotrophic fungi showed increased competitiveness. As a growth strategy on agar plates, EM fungi developed dense mycelium across all treatments, particularly in nitrogen-rich and scarce conditions. This likely enhanced their ability to take up nutrients efficiently, leading to strong competitiveness. However, under exposure to complicated structures during growth, EM fungi showed increased hyphal elongation as well. This demonstrates the significant influence of nutritional conditions and habitats on fungal interaction with the seemingly high adaptability of EM fungi. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Diving into Fungal Battles: How Nutrients and Homes Shape Fungal Interactions
The Hidden Battle Underground: Fungi Face-Off!
Did you know there's a secret showdown happening right under our feet? In the soil, fungi are locked in a battle for survival. We've dived into this battle. It's a constant tussle between two types of fungi; mycorrhizal fungi, forming alliances with plants for sugars, and saprotrophs, thriving on decomposing organic matter. They're battling for resources, and we're here to figure out what's what.
Fungi Flexing Their Skills
Surprisingly, these fungi weren't rigid in their ways. Depending on the environment - be it rich or scarce in nitrogen, or with varying nutrient compositions - mycorrhizal fungi altered... (More) - Diving into Fungal Battles: How Nutrients and Homes Shape Fungal Interactions
The Hidden Battle Underground: Fungi Face-Off!
Did you know there's a secret showdown happening right under our feet? In the soil, fungi are locked in a battle for survival. We've dived into this battle. It's a constant tussle between two types of fungi; mycorrhizal fungi, forming alliances with plants for sugars, and saprotrophs, thriving on decomposing organic matter. They're battling for resources, and we're here to figure out what's what.
Fungi Flexing Their Skills
Surprisingly, these fungi weren't rigid in their ways. Depending on the environment - be it rich or scarce in nitrogen, or with varying nutrient compositions - mycorrhizal fungi altered their approach. They adapted their growth patterns to suit the circumstances, either becoming denser or elongating their hyphae depending on the living structure. As for the saprotrophs - the decomposer fungi - they had a more consistent strategy of elongating hyphae and thrived under a specific nutritional condition like glucose-rich condition.
The Environment's Role in Fungal Showdowns
What did we uncover? Our experiments showed that the environment is a big deal. Different nutrient levels and living structures shaped how these fungi acted. These fungi aren't fixed in their ways - they're adaptable, altering strategies to thrive in diverse situations to win fungal competition.
Master’s Degree Project in Biology 30 credits 2023
Department of Biology, Lund University
Advisor: Milda, Kristin
Advisors Unit/Department: Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9143505
- author
- Beckman, Naomi Sara
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BIOM02 20232
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9143505
- date added to LUP
- 2024-01-03 11:31:57
- date last changed
- 2024-01-03 11:34:08
@misc{9143505,
abstract = {{This study investigates the underlying mechanisms of the ‘Gadgil effect’, a phenomenon where competition between ectomycorrhizal (EM) and saprotrophic fungi suppresses the growth of saprotrophic fungi. The findings showed that nutritional conditions and fungal habitats significantly influence fungal interactions and their outcomes. Under conditions of both nitrogen-rich and scarce environments, EM fungi demonstrated enhanced growth and suppressed the growth of saprotrophic fungi, thereby exhibiting a potential mechanism of the ‘Gadgil effect’. On the contrary, under a glucose-rich condition, saprotrophic fungi showed increased competitiveness. As a growth strategy on agar plates, EM fungi developed dense mycelium across all treatments, particularly in nitrogen-rich and scarce conditions. This likely enhanced their ability to take up nutrients efficiently, leading to strong competitiveness. However, under exposure to complicated structures during growth, EM fungi showed increased hyphal elongation as well. This demonstrates the significant influence of nutritional conditions and habitats on fungal interaction with the seemingly high adaptability of EM fungi.}},
author = {{Beckman, Naomi Sara}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Fungal Wars Effects of Nutrient Environment on Soil Fungal Interactions}},
year = {{2023}},
}