Amino sugars in fungal melanins and soil humic acids

Humic acids from six Brazilian topsoils (three Latosols and three Podzols) and five soil fungal melanins were hydrolysed and the released amino sugars qualitatively and quantitatively determined by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Melanins were obtained from liquid culture media, synthesized with nitrate or asparagine as a source of N, of Stachybotrys atra, Aspergillus glaucus, Eurotium echinulatum and Hendersonula toruloidea. Glucosamine (48–60%), galactosamine (39–52%), and traces of mannosamine were detected in all humic acids. The total amino sugar content ranged from 1351 to 2287 mg kg^?1. In the fungal melanins analysed, mostly glucosamine (80–99%) and trace to small amounts of galactosamine and mannosamine (<10%) were found in amounts ranging from 192 to 635 mg kg^?1. The Occurrence of mannosamine in fungal melanins and fungal polysaccharides had not previously been found. The present study gives additional data to the theory that fungal melanins may play a role, as precursors, in the formation of soil organic matter.     

Carbon mineralization, fungal and bacterial growth, and enzyme activities as affected by contact between crop residues and soil

The degree of contact between crop residues and the soil matrix, as determined by the method of residue incorporation, affects decomposition dynamics both under natural and experimental conditions. In microcosm experiments we tested the hypothesis that poor residue-soil contact reduces the decomposition of structural plant constituents through delayed colonization by microorganisms degrading cellulose and hemicellulose. Barley straw or red clover foliage was either confined in buried mesh bags or homogeneously mixed into a loamy topsoil or a silty subsoil to create poor or intimate residue-soil contact in microbiologically rich and less rich environments, respectively. Soil type had no effect on decomposition of the easily degradable clover residues, but cumulative mineralization of barley straw C after 52 days at 15°C was less in the subsoil than in the topsoil by 12% of initial C. For clover material, poor soil contact increased cumulative C mineralization by 5% of initial C in the loamy topsoil but had no effect in the silty subsoil. For the more slowly degradable, cellulose- and hemicellulose-rich straw, on the other hand, poor soil contact reduced C mineralization by 6% of initial C. The results from the loamy topsoil were confirmed in a second experiment in a sandy topsoil. The reduced decomposition of straw with poor soil contact could not be explained by less favourable abiotic conditions, N deficiency nor exclusion of larger animals by mesh bags. Reduced straw-soil contact delayed measured increases in fungal ergosterol concentration, ratio of fungal to bacterial substrate-induced respiration, number of cellulase-producing, colony-forming bacterial units and activity of cellulases and hemicellulase on the residues. Thus, the results supported our hypothesis and underscore the importance of ensuring representative conditions for the soil microflora when decomposition dynamics are studied in microcosms experiments designed to mimic field conditions.     

Amino sugars and muramic acid—biomarkers for soil microbial community structure analysis

Characterizing functional and phylogenetic microbial community structure in soil is important for understanding the fate of microbially-derived compounds during the decomposition and turn-over of soil organic matter. This study was conducted to test whether amino sugars and muramic acid are suitable biomarkers to trace bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetal residues in soil. For this aim, we investigated the pattern, amounts, and dynamics of three amino sugars (glucosamine, mannosamine and galactosamine) and muramic acid in the total microbial biomass and selectively cultivated bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes of five different soils amended with and without glucose. Our results revealed that total amino sugar and muramic acid concentrations in microbial biomass, extracted from soil after chloroform fumigation varied between 1 and 27 mg kg⁻¹ soil. In all soils investigated, glucose addition resulted in a 50-360% increase of these values. In reference to soil microbial biomass-C, the total amino sugar- and muramic acid-C concentrations ranged from 1-71 g C kg⁻¹ biomass-C. After an initial lag phase, the cultivated microbes revealed similar amino sugar concentrations of about 35, 27 and 17 g glucosamine-C kg⁻¹ TOC in bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, respectively. Mannosamine and galactosamine concentrations were lower than those for glucosamine. Mannosamine was not found in actinomycete cultures. The highest muramic acid concentrations were found in bacteria, but small amounts were also found in actinomycete cultures. The concentrations of the three amino sugars studied and muramic acid differed significantly between bacteria and the other phylogenetic microbial groups under investigation (fungi and actinomycetes). Comparison between the amino sugar and muramic acid concentrations in soil microbial biomass, extracted after chloroform fumigation, and total concentrations in the soil showed that living microbial biomass contributed negligible amounts to total amino sugar contents in the soil, being at least two orders of magnitude greater in the soils than in the soil inherent microbial biomass. Thus, amino sugars are significantly stabilized in soil.     

Influence of long-term fertilisation and crop rotation on changes in fungal and bacterial residues in a tropical rice-field soil

Amino sugars, as a microbial residue biomarker, are highly involved in microbial-mediated soil organic matter formation. However, accumulation of microbial biomass and responses of bacterial and fungal residues to the management practices are different and poorly characterized in rice soils. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of mineral fertiliser (MIN), farmyard manure (FYM) and groundnut oil cake (GOC) on crop yield and co-accumulation of microbial residues and microbial biomass under rice-monoculture (RRR) and rice–legume–rice (RLR) systems. In the organic fertiliser treatments and RLR, rice grain yield and stocks of soil and microbial nutrients were significantly higher than those of the MIN treatment and RRR, respectively. The increased presence of saprotrophic fungi in the organic fertiliser treatments and RRR was indicated by significantly increased ergosterol/C_mic ratio and extractable sulphur. In both crop rotation systems, the long-term application of FYM and GOC led to increased bacterial residues as indicated by greater accumulation of muramic acid. In contrast, the higher fungal C/bacterial C ratio and lower ergosterol/C_mic ratio in the MIN treatment, is likely caused by a shift within the fungal community structure towards ergosterol-free arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The organic fertiliser treatments contributed 22 % more microbial residual C to soil organic C compared to the MIN treatment. Our results suggest that the negative relationship between the ratios ergosterol/C_mic and fungal C/bacterial C encourages studying responses of both saprotrophic fungi and AMF when assessing management effects on the soil microbial community.     

Specific response of fungal and bacterial residues to one-season tillage and repeated slurry application in a permanent grassland soil

The dynamics of fungal and bacterial residues to a one-season tillage event in combination with manure application in a grassland soil are unknown. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the effects of one-season tillage event in two field trials on the stocks of microbial biomass, fungal biomass, microbial residues, soil organic C (SOC) and total N in comparison with permanent grassland; (2) to determine the effects of repeated manure application to restore negative tillage effects on soil microbial biomass and residues. One trial was started 2 years before sampling and the other 5 years before sampling. Mouldboard ploughing decreased the stocks of SOC, total N, microbial biomass C, and microbial residues (muramic acid and glucosamine), but increased those of the fungal biomarker ergosterol in both trials. Slurry application increased stocks of SOC and total N only in the short-term, whereas the stocks of microbial biomass C, ergosterol and microbial residues were generally increased in both trials, especially in combination with tillage. The ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratio was increased by tillage, and decreased by slurry application in both trials. The fungal C to bacterial C ratio was generally decreased by these two treatments. The metabolic quotient qCO₂ showed a significant negative linear relationship with the microbial biomass C to SOC ratio and a significant positive relationship with the soil C/N ratio. The ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratio revealed a significant positive linear relationship with the fungal C to bacterial C ratio, but a negative one with the SOC content. Our results suggest that slurry application in grassland soil may promote SOC storage without increasing the role of saprotrophic fungi in soil organic matter dynamics relative to that of bacteria.     

Hydrocarbon mineralization in soil: Relative bacterial and fungal contribution

The relative contributions to n-hexadecane mineralization by soil bacteria and fungi were assessed using the streptomycin-cycloheximide inhibition technique. In a sandy loam with no history of hydrocarbon pollution 82% n-hexadecane mineralization was attributable to bacteria and only 13% to fungi. In the same soil, glucose mineralization was shared evenly between the bacterial and fungal segments of the soil microbial community.     

Amino acids and amino sugars extracted by EUF from a sandy soil incubated with green manure,bacterial biomass or cellulose

The extraction of soils by the electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) method yields organic N which has been used as an index for mineralisable N in soils. This EUF extractable organic fraction contains a mixture of various N compounds not yet completely identified. It has been proposed that the amino N compounds are more indicative for the potentially mineralisable N in soils than the total organic N extracted (Mengel et al., 1999). An amendment of soils with easily mineralisable organic matter may, therefore, alter the amino N concentrations of the organic N extracted. Our determination of the amino N compounds aimed to prove this hypothesis. The principle of our experiment was to mix soil with green manure, bacterial biomass and cellulose, respectively, and to incubate the treated soil aerobically for 80 days at 20°C in the laboratory. Control treatments without organic amendment were also incubated. Soil samples were taken several times during the incubation period and analysed for the inorganic N (NO₃⁻-N and NH₄⁺-N) and for the EUF extractable organic N. Amino acids and amino sugars were determined in the hydrolysed EUF extracts. The concentrations of amino acids and amino sugars in the organic N extracted varied with time and differed between the treatments. Glutamic acid has been found to be the most relevant amino acid in the EUF extracts and was particularly indicative for the existence of mineralisable green manure in the soil. Glucosamine was the most relevant amino sugar in the EUF extracts and this amino sugar appears to be indicative for the easily mineralisable relics of microbial cells in the soil.     

Weed seeds as nutritional resources for soil Ascomycota and characterization of specific associations between plant and fungal species

Current interest in biological-based management of weed seed banks in agriculture furthers the need to understand how microorganisms affect seed fate in soil. Many annual weeds produce seeds in high abundance; their dispersal presenting ready opportunity for interactions with soil-borne microorganisms. In this study, we investigated seeds of four common broadleaf weeds, velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), woolly cupgrass (Eriochloa villosa), Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum), and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), for potential as sources of carbon nutrition for soil fungi. Seeds, as the major source of carbon in an agar matrix, were exposed to microbial populations derived from four different soils for 2 months. Most seeds were heavily colonized, and the predominant 18S rRNA gene sequences cloned from these assemblages were primarily affiliated with Ascomycota. Further, certain fungi corresponded to weed species, regardless of soil population. Relatives of Chaetomium globosum (98–99% sequence identity) and Cordyceps sinensis (99%) were found to be associated with seeds of woolly cupgrass and Pennsylvania smartweed, respectively. More diverse fungi were associated with velvetleaf seeds, which were highly susceptible to decay. The velvetleaf seed associations were dominated by relatives of Cephaliophora tropica (98–99%). In contrast to the other species, only few giant ragweed seeds were heavily colonized, but those that were colonized resulted in seed decay. The results showed that seeds could provide significant nutritional resources for saprophytic microbes, given the extant populations can overcome intrinsic seed defenses against microbial antagonism. Further, weed species-specific associations may occur with certain fungi, with nutritional benefits conferred to microorganisms that may not always result in seed biodeterioration.     

Novel antibiotics as inhibitors for the selective respiratory inhibition method of measuring fungal:bacterial ratios in soil

The use of the selective inhibition (SI) method for measuring fungal:bacterial ratios may be limited due to biocide selectivity and the overlap of antibiotic activity. This study evaluated novel pairs of antibiotics for their specificity in soils of different origins and their potential reduction in inhibition of non-target organisms. Four soils selected for this study were from a semi-arid shrub-steppe, a loblolly pine forest and two grassland sites (restored and farmed prairie plots). Three bactericides were tested: oxytetracycline hydrochloride, streptomycin sulphate, and bronopol. Three fungicides were tested: captan, ketoconazole, and nystatin. The inhibitor additivity ratio and fungal:bacterial ratios were calculated from control and treated soils where inhibition was measured as CO₂ respiration reduction with biocides. We were able to minimize non-target inhibition by the antibiotics to <5% and thus calculate reliable fungal:bacterial ratios using captan to inhibit fungi in all four soils, and bronopol to inhibit bacteria in three of the four soils. The most successful bactericide in the restored prairie was oxytetracycline-HCl. Our results demonstrate that application of novel antibiotics is not uniformly successful in soils of different origin and that the SI technique requires more than just optimization of antibiotic concentration; it also requires optimization of antibiotic selection.     

Forage crops alter soil bacterial and fungal communities in an apple orchard

In this study, we investigated the effects of planting three types of forage crops in an apple orchard on the soil microbial community structure. The apple orchard was intercropped with native grasses (NG), red clover (RC; Trifolium pratense L.), ryegrass (RE; Trifolium repens L.), and no vegetation (CT control; clean tillage). We obtained soil samples from depths of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60?cm from the different treatment plots in the orchard and analysed them using a high-throughput DNA sequencing technique. The three forage crops had affected the soil bacterial and fungal community structures. Compared with CT control, intercropping with NG increased the proportion of Acidobacteria and reduced those of Nitrospirae and Verrucomicrobia, whereas intercropping with RC increased the proportions of Nitrospirae and Verrucomicrobia and reduced that of Planctomycetes. Intercropping with RE increased the proportions of Nitrospirae and Chloroflexi, whereas reduced that of Acidobacteria. Furthermore, unlike in the other treatments, intercropping with NG increased the proportion of Zygomycota in the 0–20-cm soil layer. Intercropping with RC increased the proportion of Chytridiomycota in all the three soil layers, whereas intercropping with RE increased the proportion of Basidiomycota in the 20–40-cm soil layer. Collectively, these findings suggest that intercropping with forage crops, especially RC, in an apple orchard, could alter soil microbial community structure. In our previous study, we showed that microbial sole-carbon-source utilisation is changed by intercropping with forage crops; thus, it can be considered as an effective approach to improve the efficiency of soil C cycling in the apple orchard by altering the microbial community structure.     

Investigating the mechanisms for the opposing pH relationships of fungal and bacterial growth in soil

Soil pH is one of the most influential variables in soil, and is a powerful factor in influencing the size, activity and community structure of the soil microbial community. It was previously shown in a century old artificial pH gradient in an arable soil (pH 4.0-8.3) that bacterial growth is positively related to pH, while fungal growth increases with decreasing pH. In an attempt to elucidate some of the mechanisms for this, plant material that especially promotes fungal growth (straw) or bacterial growth (alfalfa) was added to soil samples of the pH gradient in 5-day laboratory incubation experiments. Also, bacterial growth was specifically inhibited by applying a selective bacterial growth inhibitor (bronopol) along the entire pH gradient to investigate if competitive interaction caused the shift in the decomposer community along the gradient. Straw benefited fungal growth relatively more than bacterial, and vice versa for alfalfa. The general pattern of a shift in fungal:bacterial growth with pH was, however, unaffected by substrate additions, indicating that lack of a suitable substrate was not the cause of the pH effect on the microbial community. In response to the bacterial growth inhibition by bronopol, there was stimulation of fungal growth up to pH 7, but not beyond, both for alfalfa and straw addition. However, the accumulation of ergosterol (an indicator of fungal biomass) during the incubation period after adding alfalfa increased at all pHs, indicating that fungal growth had been high at some time during the 5-day incubation following joint addition of alfalfa and bronopol. This was corroborated in a time-series experiment. In conclusion, the low fungal growth at high pH in an arable soil was caused to a large extent by bacterial competition, and not substrate limitation.     

Soil carbon sequestration and changes in fungal and bacterial biomass following incorporation of forest residues

Sequestering carbon (C) in forest soils can benefit site fertility and help offset greenhouse gas emissions. However, identifying soil conditions and forest management practices which best promote C accumulation remains a challenging task. We tested whether soil incorporation of masticated woody residues alters short-term C storage at forested sites in western and southeastern USA. Our hypothesis was that woody residues would preferentially stimulate soil fungal biomass, resulting in improved C use efficiency and greater soil C storage. Harvest slash at loblolly pine sites in South Carolina was masticated (chipped) and either (1) retained on the soil surface, (2) tilled to a soil depth of 40 cm, or (3) tilled using at least twice the mass of organics. At comparative sites in California, live woody fuels in ponderosa pine stands were (1) masticated and surface applied, (2) masticated and tilled, or (3) left untreated. Sites with clayey and sandy soils were compared in each region, with residue additions ranging from 20 to 207 Mg ha⁻¹. Total and active fungal biomass were not strongly affected by residue incorporation despite the high input of organics. Limited response was also found for total and active bacterial biomass. As a consequence, fungal:bacterial (F:B) biomass ratios were similar among treatments at each site. Total soil C was elevated at one California site following residue incorporation, yet was significantly lower compared to surface-applied residues at both loblolly pine sites, presumably due to the oxidative effects of tilling on soil organic matter. The findings demonstrated an inconsequential effect of residue incorporation on fungal and bacterial biomass and suggest a limited potential of such practices to enhance long-term soil C storage in these forests.     

Long-term effects of organic farming on fungal and bacterial residues in relation to microbial energy metabolism

Samples from the bio-dynamic, bio-organic, and conventional trial, Therwil, Switzerland, were analyzed with the aim of determining the effects of organic land use management on the energy metabolism of the soil microbial biomass and on the fraction of microbial residues. The contents of adenylates, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), glucosamine, muramic acid, and galactosamine were significantly largest in the biodynamic organic farming (BYODIN) treatment and significantly lowest in the conventional farming treatment with inorganic fertilization (CONMIN). In contrast, the ergosterol-to-ATP ratio and fungal C-to-bacterial C ratios were significantly lowest in the BYODIN treatment and significantly largest in the CONMIN treatment. No clear treatment effects were observed for the ergosterol content and the adenylate energy charge (AEC), the ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio and the ergosterol-to-fungal C ratio. Ergosterol, an indicator for saprotrophic fungal biomass, and fungal residues were significantly correlated. The microbial biomass carbon-to-nitrogen ratio showed a negative relationship with the AEC and strong positive relationships with the ratios ergosterol-to-microbial biomass C, ergosterol-to-ATP and fungal C-to-bacterial C. In conclusion, the long-term application of farmyard manure in combination with organic farming practices led to an increased accumulation of bacterial residues.     

秸秆还田与施肥方式对稻麦轮作土壤细菌和真菌群落结构与多样性的影响

为探索秸秆还田与施肥方式2种农田措施对水稻-小麦(稻麦)轮作土壤微生物群落的影响,阐释其对土壤细菌和真菌群落结构和多样性的影响机制,本研究通过7年稻麦轮作长期定位监测试验,设置无肥空白(CK)、常规施肥(RT)、秸秆还田+常规施肥(RS)和秸秆还田+缓释肥(SS) 4个处理,采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术,分析土壤细菌和真菌群落结构和多样性,探索影响微生物群落的主控环境因子。结果表明, SS作物产量在2016年和2017年分别比RT显著提高11.6%和8.2%(水稻)、4.8%和3.6%(小麦),与RS无显著差异。相比RT,秸秆还田处理显著降低了土壤pH,提升了土壤有机碳和铵态氮含量;与RS相比,SS处理提高了铵态氮含量。秸秆还田处理提升了真菌群落多样性,但对细菌群落多样性无显著影响。SS与RS在细菌真菌群落多样性方面均无显著差异。相关性分析表明,细菌群落多样性与土壤pH呈负相关,与总氮含量呈正相关;真菌群落多样性则与土壤有机碳含量显著正相关。NMDS分析表明,施肥对于细菌群落结构影响较大(55.61%),真菌群落结构则对秸秆还田响应更明显(26.94%)。与RT相比,秸秆还田显著提升了细菌放线菌门、绿弯菌门、厚壁菌门的相对丰度,同时显著提升了真菌中子囊菌门的相对丰度,降低了担子菌门和接合菌门的相对丰度,加强了土壤碳氮循环能力并抑制了病原菌。SS与RS相比,仅提升了真菌中子囊菌门的相对丰度。综上,秸秆还田配施缓释肥有助于维持或者提高土壤养分有效性、作物产量及细菌真菌群落多样性,可以促进土壤碳氮循环。     

Long-term nitrogen fertilization impacts soil fungal and bacterial community structures in a dryland soil of Loess Plateau in China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Nitrogen (N) fertilization is a key factor that affects soil biogeochemical properties and microbial community structures across ecosystems. However, we know less...     

The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an indicator of ecosystem self-regulation in temperate meadow grasslands

 There is much interest in the development of agricultural land management strategies aimed at enhancing reliance on ecosystem self-regulation rather than on artificial inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides. This study tested the usefulness of measures of soil microbial biomass and fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as indicators of effective conversion from an intensive grassland system, reliant mainly on fertilisers for crop nutrition, to a low-input system reliant mainly on self-regulation through soil biological pathways of nutrient turnover. Analysis of soils from a wide range of meadow grassland sites in northern England, along a gradient of long-term management intensity, showed that fungal:bacterial biomass ratios (measured by phospholipid fatty acid analysis; PLFA) were consistently and significantly higher in the unfertilised than the fertilised grasslands. There was also some evidence that microbial biomass, measured by chloroform fumigation and total PLFA, was higher in the unfertilised than in the fertilised grasslands. It was also found that levels of inorganic nitrogen (N), in particular nitrate-N, were significantly higher in the fertilised than in the unfertilised grasslands. However, microbial activity, measured as basal respiration, did not differ between the sites. A field manipulation trial was conducted to determine whether the reinstatement of traditional management on an improved mesotrophic grassland, for 6 years, resulted in similar changes in the soil microbial community. It was found that neither the cessation of fertiliser applications nor changes in cutting and grazing management significantly affected soil microbial biomass or the fungal:bacterial biomass ratio. It is suggested that the lack of effects on the soil microbial community may be related to high residual fertility caused by retention of fertiliser N in the soil. On the basis of these results it is recommended that following the reinstatement of low-input management, the measurement of a significant increase in the soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratio, and perhaps total microbial biomass, may be an indicator of successful conversion to a grassland system reliant of self-regulation. Received: 4 May 1998     

The use of phospholipid fatty acid analysis to estimate bacterial and fungal biomass in soil

The cell content of 12 bacterial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) was determined in bacteria extracted from soil by homogenization/centrifugation. The bacteria were enumerated using acridine orange direct counts. An average of 1.40×10^-17 mol bacterial PLFA cell^-1 was found in bacteria extracted from 15 soils covering a wide range of pH and organic matter contents. With this factor, the bacterial biomass based on PLFA analyses of whole soil samples was calculated as 1.0–4.8 mg bacterial C g^-1 soil C. The corresponding range based on microscopical counts was 0.3–3.0 mg bacterial C g^-1 soil C. The recovery of bacteria from the soils using homogenization/centrifugation was 2.6–16% (mean 8.7%) measured by PLFA analysis, and 12–61% (mean 26%) measured as microscopical counts. The soil content of the PLFA 18:26 was correlated with the ergosterol content (r=0.92), which supports the use of this PLFA as an indicator of fungal biomass. The ratio 18:26 to bacterial PLFA is therefore suggested as an index of the fungal:bacterial biomass ratio in soil. An advantage with the method based on PLFA analyses is that the same technique and even the same sample is used to determine both fungi and bacteria. The fungal:bacterial biomass ratio calculated in this way was positively correlated with the organic matter content of the soils (r=0.94).     

Effect of soil copper on the response of soil fungal communities to the addition of plant residues

Organic residues provide the fundamental energy supply supporting soil fungal communities. Provision of adequate energy is required for soil microbial communities to adapt and function in the presence of ecological stress, such as copper (Cu) contamination. However, contamination can also lead to decreased ecological fitness of microorganisms, limiting their ability to access substrates. Thus, complex interactions exist between substrates, metals, energy supply/accessibility, fungal communities and their processes, and these have implications for ecosystem processes. We investigated the interaction between energy resources and Cu tolerance on soil fungal communities, including Fusarium and Trichoderma (model disease causing and beneficial genera). Using quantitative PCR and DGGE fingerprinting, the effects of increasing soil Cu levels (0 to >3000 mg Cu kg⁻¹ soil) on size and structure of soil fungal communities were tested under basal and plant-residue (medic; Medicago trunculata) added conditions. The interaction between increasing soil Cu levels and the addition of plant resources on fungal community structure was tested using multivariate analysis. The relative size (DNA copies per unit of soil DNA) of soil fungal communities, including Trichoderma and Fusarium, significantly (P < 0.05) increased (94% and 32% respectively) with addition of medic to soil. In medic-applied samples, the bacterial to fungal ratio decreased, demonstrating the selective influence of the cellulose-rich substrate on the fungal community. Under the high nutrient conditions fungal DNA increased as a fraction of the total soil DNA, demonstrating the tolerance of fungi to Cu (relative to other microbiota) given adequate energy resources. Copper had no impact on the abundance of Fusarium or Trichoderma, but significantly affected community structure (PERMANOVA; P < 0.05). With increasing Cu, species selection and replacement could be observed, particularly in soils where medic had been included. Plant residue addition itself was a highly selective factor affecting the structure of communities of Trichoderma and Fusarium (P < 0.05). The effects of increasing Cu could be seen in both medic and basal soils for Trichoderma, but only in the basal treatments for soil Fusarium. This was due to very low dispersion in Fusarium community structure in the medic-added treatment (PERMDISP; P < 0.05). The results show the interactive influence of organic matter inputs and heavy metal contamination on size and structure of soil fungal communities. The data show that species selection and replacement is an important mechanism for community adaptation to increasing levels of soil Cu, and this mechanism can be influenced by addition of resources to the soil.     

Decomposition of 14C-labelled melanoid fungal residues in a marginally sodic soil

Three melanoid fungi, namely Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata and Drechslera australiensis were grown on ¹⁴C-glucose and then fractionated into cell wall, cytoplasm and melanin. The decomposition of these fractions and their contribution to the stable organic matter fraction was studied in a marginally sodic soil. The rate of decomposition of fungal melanins was less than that of the cell wall or cytoplasm which had the highest rate of decomposition. However, the contribution of these fractions to the humic acid fraction was very low. Most of the ¹⁴C-activity was recovered in the humin fraction.