Tradeoffs between reproduction and mycelium production in the unit-restricted decomposer Coprinus cinereus

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was performed which examined tradeoffs between production of mycelium and reproduction (using stipe dry weight as an estimator of spore production) in the coprophilous mushroom species Coprinus cinereus. Isolates of the fungus taken from a single dikaryotic mycelium were grown in Petri plates containing yeast extract agar. Plates varied in diameter and resource density, but the total volume of agar was kept constant. Isolates grown in 100 mm and 150 mm diameter plates produced significantly less mycelium compared to isolates grown in 60 mm diameter plates. Within 60 mm plates there was no correlation between the efficiency of mycelium production and fruit body production, but in larger plates there was a significant negative correlation between the two. These results indicate that isolates grown on larger plates were less efficient at using resources than isolates grown on small plates, and that mycelium production is curtailed on larger plates to maintain spore production.

• Coprinus cinereus
• fungi
• mycelium
• resource allocation
• tradeoffs
• unit-restricted decomposer

I would like to thank Greg Mueller, Melinda Brady, Mathew Leibold, Mike Miller, Ellen Simms, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript. This research was funded by NSF grant DEB 96-23523.