Microcolonies of bacteria as a nutrient source for lignicolous and other fungi

Abstract

Under low nutrient conditions hyphae of certain fungi are strongly attracted to microcolonies of bacteria belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and Agrobacterium. Hyphae of the fungi penetrate the microcolonies and proliferate to produce coral-loid, haustorial-like masses of absorptive hyphae. The bacteria in the colonies are lysed and the contents apparently absorbed as a nutrient source by the fungi. The four fungi that demonstrated this capability were Agaricus brunnescens (= A. bisporus), Coprinus quadrifidus, Lepista nuda, and Pleurotus ostreatus. Approximately 100 additional species belonging to the Basidiomycota, Oomycota, Zygomycota, Deuteromycota, or Ascomycota were also tested, but none were found capable of attacking and digesting bacterial colonies in this way.