An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark.

Premise: Traditional moist chamber cultures (MCs) prepared in aseptic laboratory environments using sterile Petri dishes are commonly used to quantify the microbiota of rough-bark tree species and woody vines. MCs are typically expensive and may be difficult to make, so a less expensive option made from easily available supplies was developed. These cost-friendly MCs were compared with standard laboratory methods to demonstrate their efficacy.

Autofluorescence and ultrastructure in the Myxomycete Diachea leucopodia (Physarales).

Autofluorescence is reported for the first time in Myxomycete fruiting bodies. Ultrastructure of stalked sporangia of Diachea leucopodia (Didymiaceae, Physarales) was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and fluorescence microscopy. External and internal properties of the peridium that surround the spores and capillitium exhibit autofluorescence.

Macrofungi associated with vegetation and soils at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri.

Fungi and vascular plant interactions are necessary components of natural community establishment, productivity and degradation. While many fungal species serve as decomposers of organic matter, others have evolved mutualistic or parasitic relationships with vascular plants. This research focused on characterizing associations among macrofungi, vascular plant communities and soils.

Aerial reproductive structures of vascular plants as a microhabitat for myxomycetes.

This study explored the occurrence and distribution of myxomycete species on the aerial reproductive structures of vascular plants. Eight species of vascular plants representing five families were sampled. The doubled rope climbing method was used to collect bark and cones from the canopy of Pinus echinata.

Influence of bark pH on the occurrence and distribution of tree canopy myxomycete species.

This study compares the occurrence and distribution of myxomycete species in the canopy of living trees and neighboring grapevines. Corticolous myxomycetes of three temperate forests in southeastern USA were studied on six tree species (30 trees) and grapevines (30 vines) to determine distribution and occurrence of myxomycete species relating to geographic location, host species, and bark pH. The double-rope climbing technique was used to access the canopy and sample bark up to 16.

The myxomycete genus Schenella: morphological and DNA sequence evidence for synonymy with the gasteromycete genus Pyrenogaster.

The genus Schenella has proven difficult to classify since its description as a new genus in 1911. Macbride placed it with the Myxomycetes but it was unclear with which myxomycete, if any, it should be grouped. Recent identification of abundant samples of Schenella has aided a re-evaluation of its classification as a myxomycete.

Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: ecological and developmental observations of a new myxomycete species of Diachea.

A survey and inventory of tree canopy bio-diversity for cryptogams (myxomycetes, macrofungi, mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park resulted in the discovery of an undescribed myxomycete species. This taxon is classified in the order Physarales, family Di-dymiaceae and genus Diachea. A combination of morphological characteristics distinguishes Diachea arboricola H.

Vertical distribution and assemblages of corticolous myxomycetes on five tree species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Corticolous myxomycetes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were studied in relation to their association with certain tree species and height of occurrence in the forest canopy. Using the double-rope climbing method, bark was collected at 3 m increments to the tops of trees of five different species. Bark samples from 25 trees were used to prepare 418 moist chamber cultures maintained and observed 4 wk.