Three isolates each, of nine different Trametes and five other wood inhabiting basidiomycetes, were collected from the indigenous
forests of Zimbabwe, and the impact of temperature (20–60 °C), osmotic and matric potential (−0·5 to −8·0 MPa), and their
interactions on in vitro growth compared. Generally, there was no significant difference between growth of isolates of the same
species in relation to temperature. Temperature relationships of the species studied correlated well with their geographic
distributions. Species occurring in hot, dry regions tolerated a wide temperature range, with some showing unusually high
thermotolerance (55°, T. socotrana, T. cingulata and T. cervina). There were significant intra-strain differences for individual species in
relation to solute potential on glycerol-modified media. Generally, growth of all species was better on glycerol- and KCl-modified
osmotic media than on a matrically-modified medium (PEG 8000) at 25, 30 and 37°. The limits for growth on the osmotic media
were significantly wider than matric medium, being −4·5 to −5·0 and −2·5 to −4·5 MPa, respectively. An Irpex sp. grew at
lower water potentials than all other species, with good growth at −7·0 MPa. This study suggests that the capacity of these fungi
for effective growth over a range of temperatures, osmotic and matric potentials contributes to their rapid wood decay capacities in
tropical climates.