Skip to main content
Log in

Role of plant cover in distribution of fungi in Nilgiri forest soils

  • Published:
Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Summary

Forest soils from Nilgiris collected under different plant covers at three altitude ranges (i.e., 7,300 ft. to 6,500 ft., 6,000 ft. to 5,400 ft. and 2,500 ft. M.S.L.) were analysed by routine methods for soil fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes to record their seasonal distribution and percentage occurrence of major groups of fungi.

The influence of season, soil type, altitude and the possible effects of degradation products of plant detritus, as well as that of microbial metabolites for the dominance/inhibition of soil fungi are discussed.

The importance of the study of the role of plant cover in the ecology of soil fungi is indicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Borner, H... “Untersuchungen über den Abbau von Phlorizin im Boden. Ein Beiträg zum problem der Boden mudigkeit bei Obstgeholzen,”Naturwiss., 1958,45, 138–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chase, F. E. and Baker, G. A... “A comparison of microbial activity in an Ontario forest soil under pine, hemlock and maple covers,”Canad. J. Microbiol., 1954,1, 45–54.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deyl, M. ..Plants, Soil and Climate of Pop Ivan. Synecological Studies of Carpathian Ukraina, 1940, Kruh Mladych Ceskych Botanicker, Praha-Troja 129, Praha, pp. 168.

  • Ellis, M... “Some fungi isolated from pine wood soil,”Trans. Brit. mycol. Soc., 1940,24, 87–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossbard, E... “Stimulation of pigmentation and sporulation in fungi by metabolites of actinomycetes,”J. gen. Microbiol., 1955,12, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrett, S. D... “The soil fungi as a microcosm for ecologists,”Sci. Pregt., 1952,40, 436–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——..Biology of Root-infecting Fungi, 1956, Cambridge University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, M. E. K... “Studies on the physiology of lignin decomposition by soil fungi,” InThe Ecology of Soil Fungi, 1960. (Editors: Parkinson, D. and Waid, J. S.), Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, pp. 286–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katznelson, H., Lochhead, A. G. and Timonin, M. I. “Soil micro-organisms and the rhizosphere”,Bot. Rev., 1948,14, 543–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keen, B. A. and Raczowski, H. “The relation between clay constituents and certain physical properties of the soil,”J. agric. Sci., 1921,11, 441–49.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, A. P...Mycotrophy in Plants, 1950, Chronica Botanica, Waltham, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knösel, D... “Über die Wirkung aus Pflanzenresten freiwerdender phenolischen Substanzen auf Mikroorganismen des Bodens,”Ztschr. f. Pflanzenernzhrge. Düngg und Bodenkde., 1958,80, 225–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loehwing, W. E... “Root interactions of plants,”Bot. Rev., 1937,4, 195–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J... “Ecologie des moissures du sol et leur relations avec la vegetation,”Trans. 5th int. Congr. Soil Sci., Leopoldville. 1954,3, 71–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. H., Giddens, J. E. and Foster, A. A. “A survey of the fungi of forest and cultivated soils of Georgia,”Mycologia, 1957,49, 779–808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, M. B... “The soil fungi of a pine forest,” Ibid., 1932,24, 398–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine, F. S. .. “Study in the fungus flora of virgin soils,”Mycologia, 1927, 248–66.

  • Parkinson, D. and Waid, J. S.The Ecology of Soil Fungi, 1960, (Eds.), Liverpool University Press, Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pistor, R... “Beiträge Zur Kenntnis der Biologischen tatigkeit von Pilzen in Waldboden,”Zbl. Bakt. ii, Abstract, 1930,80, 8–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rommell, L. G. .. “Ecological problems of the humus layer in the forest,”Cornell Univ. agric. Exp. Sta. Mem., 1935, 170.

  • Ramakrishnan, K.Soil Conditions and Fungal Wilts in Plants: The Distribution and Behaviour of Fungi in Soils, 1953, Doctoral Thesis, University of Madras.

  • Saksena, S. B... “Ecological factors governing the distribution of soil microfungi in some forest soils of Sagar,”J. Indian bot. Soc., 1955,34, 262–98.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Satwalekar, S. S... “Chemistry and antibacterial properties of Kinos fromEucalyptus spp.”J. Indian Inst. Sci., 1957,39, 195.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sewell, G. W. F... “Studies of fungi in calluna heathland soils. II. By the complementary use of several isolation methods,”Trans. Brit. mycol. Soc., 1959,42, 354–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sowden, F. J. and Ivarson, K. C. “Decomposition of forest litters. I. Production of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen, changes in microbial population and rate of decomposition,”Plant and Soil, 1959,11, 237–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starkey, R. L... “Interrelationships between micro-organisms and plant roots in the rhizosphere,”Bact. Rev., 1958,22, 154–72.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Svinhufvud, V. E... “Untersuchungen über die boden miirobiologischen unterscheide der Cajanderschen Waldtypen,”Acta. for. fenn., 1937,44, 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, R. H... “Growth of fungi in forest and grassland soils,” inThe Ecology of Soil Fungi, 1960 (Editors: Parkinson, D. and Waid, J. S.) Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, p. 84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timonin, M. I... “The interrelationships of higher plants and soil microorganisms—II,”Canad. J. Res., 1940,18 B, 444–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tresner, H. D., Backus, M. P. and Curtis, J. T. “Soil microfungi in relation to the hard wood forest continuum in Southern Wisconsin,”Mycologia, 1954,46, 314–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waksman, S. A... “The growth of fungi in soil,”Soil Sci., 1932,14, 153–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, G. M... “Studies in the succession of fungi in the decomposing litter of coniferous forest soils, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nottingham (cited by C. G. C. Chesters in problems associated with the decomposition of organic matter in soil)”, inThe Ecology of Soil Fungi, 1952, p. 238. (Editors: Parkinson, D. and J. S. Waid), Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, p. 238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welvaert, W. and Veldeman, R.Mededel. Landbouwhogeschool en Opzoekingstts Staat. Gent., 1955,20, 193–210. (Cited by H. G. Thornton and Jane M. John in Soil Microbiology,Annu. Rev. Microbiol., 1957,11, 123–48.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, R. E. O. and Spicer, C. C.Microbial Ecology. VII Symp. Soc. gen. Microbiol. 1957. (Eds., Cambridge University Press, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, A. G., Helgepeuss and Schönbeck, F. “The influence of biotic factors on the development of soil fungi,” inThe Ecology of Soil Fungi, 1960 (Editors: Parkinson, D. and Waid, J. S.), Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, p. 76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, A. G... “New physiological and biological aspects in the interrelationships between higher plants,”Mechanisms in Biological Competition. XV Symp. Soc. exp. Biol., 1961, Ed., Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 229–44.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by Prof. T. S. Sadasivan,f.a.sc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reddy, T.K.R. Role of plant cover in distribution of fungi in Nilgiri forest soils. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 56, 185–194 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03051595

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03051595

Keywords

Navigation