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Simulated fire reduces the density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the soil surface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1999

G. S. PATTINSON
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences A12, University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
K. A. HAMMILL
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Sciences A20, University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
B. G. SUTTON
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Sciences A20, University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
P. A. MCGEE
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences A12, University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
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Abstract

In experimental microcosms, three Glomus spp. were subjected to heating to over 200°C at the soil surface and 70° at 5 cm to determine the effect of fire on survival of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Heating reduced the quantity of propagules surviving at the soil surface and the effect declined with depth. While all propagules are likely to be affected by heat, we argue that the hyphal network is most severely disturbed and probably responsible for declines in density of fungi observed in the field following fire.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
The British Mycological Society 1999

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