From: ir@ene.nu
On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 10:09:22 -0400, Frederick Burroughs
wrote:
>The ecological relationship between mushrooms and nematodes is something
>I haven't given much thought.
I must admit I haven't done that either. For some reason, this has
belonged more to the agricultural and microbiological sciences than to
mycology in general.
>Obviously, nematodes are a factor of the
>environment to which mushrooms must adapt. If a mushroom must protect
>itself against predatory nematodes, then the mycelium might benefit from
>the production of a toxin that protects against nematodes. If a mushroom
>has evolved the capability to feed on nematodes, then the mycelium might
>produce a substance or mechanism that *attracts* prey.
Here's one of my own theories: In most cases, just containing
nutrition is enough to attract them, but certain species are in
different ways probably more attractive than others - for example
species with thin-walled hyphae that are easier for nematodes to
penetrate. The mushrooms who have survived that, are species that
could protect themselves with toxins or traps instead.
>Is the movement
>of nematodes assisted by paths of edible mycelium threading through the
>medium? Are mycelia assisted by following the burrows of nematodes to a
>food source?
Interesting questions... This has also made me wonder about the role
of toxins in mushrooms. What I have thought being a circumstantial
creation of substances, of which some just happen to be toxic to us,
I'm now beginning to beleive that the poisons are important features
for the mushrooms. As a defence, or a way to get rid of competitors.
>There are whole ecologies right under our feet most people
>never dream of.
Yes - and most of it happens in the upper four inches of the soil.
Imagine how vulnerable that is...
Irene Andersson
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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