Microfungal assemblage on Quercus ilex leaf litter in Tuscany, central Italy

Abstract

We investigated the microfungal assemblage on Quercus ilex leaf litter within the Viburno-Quercetum ilicis ornetosum, from five coastal stands, three litter layers, and two seasons (spring and autumn). The microfungal assemblage was determined by direct observation, collection, and identification of filamentous microfungi colonizing the leaf litter after incubation in damp chambers. The assemblage was characterized by the presence of two dominant species, Beltrania rhombica and Beltrania querna, which seemed to be strongly related to the plant material, and a group of fungal species, with considerable relative frequency values, strongly affected by the season. The results showed a similar pattern of microfungal species composition among the stands and the litter layers.

Key words:

• Litter
• microfungal assemblage
• Mediterranean shrubby vegetation
• Quercus ilex
• saprotrophic fungi

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy. The authors thank Prof. Walter Gams (Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands) for critical comments. They also thank Dr. Claudia Perini (Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, University of Siena, Italy) for help and suggestions, and Dr. L. Fibbi and Dr. B. Gozzini (La.M.M.A. Regione Toscana, Italy) for providing pluviometric data.