TY - JOUR
T1 - Fungal colonization and breakdown of sedge (Cyperus malaccensis Lam.) in an Indian mangrove
AU - Sridhar, Kandikere R.
AU - Karamchand, Kishore S.
AU - Sumathi, Prabhu
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to Mangalore University for granting permission to carry out this study at the Department of Biosciences. K.S.K. acknowledges the research fellowship granted under SC/ST Cell, Mangalore University and Rajeev Gandhi Fellowship, University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. The authors are thankful to Prof. Felix Bärlocher, Mt. Allison University, Canada, Prof. K. Aruna Rao and Mr. N.M. Sudheep at Mangalore University for statistical assistance.
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - We studied patterns of fungal colonization, mass loss and biochemical changes during decomposition of the dominant mangrove sedge Cyperus malaccensis in a mangal located in southwestern India. Litter bags containing dried bracts, basal stem and top stem were introduced into a sedge sward in a mid-tidal zone for periods of up to 8 weeks (April-June 2005). After retrieval of sedge substrates and incubation in the laboratory, 19 fungi (10 anamorphs, 8 ascomycetes and one zygomycete) were found. Terrestrial fungi dominated over the first 2-3 weeks. Later, in spite of falling water temperatures and salinity, they were replaced by typical mangrove/marine ascomycetes and anamorphs. Up to 79% of bract mass loss occurred in 4 weeks; respective losses for basal stems and top stems were 88% and 51% through 8 weeks. The estimated durations of 50% mass loss (t50) were 4.5, 10.9 and 22.9 days for bract, basal stem and top stem, respectively. Accordingly, there were significant differences in daily decay coefficients (k) among substrates. Organic carbon and phenolics decreased steadily in all substrates. Phosphorus concentrations decreased, attained a minimum and increased again, reaching final concentrations similar to initial values. Nitrogen concentration increased through the end of the experiment. Cellulase, xylanase and pectinase in all sedge substrates generally peaked within 4 weeks. This is the first study on decomposition of the macrophyte C. malaccensis.
AB - We studied patterns of fungal colonization, mass loss and biochemical changes during decomposition of the dominant mangrove sedge Cyperus malaccensis in a mangal located in southwestern India. Litter bags containing dried bracts, basal stem and top stem were introduced into a sedge sward in a mid-tidal zone for periods of up to 8 weeks (April-June 2005). After retrieval of sedge substrates and incubation in the laboratory, 19 fungi (10 anamorphs, 8 ascomycetes and one zygomycete) were found. Terrestrial fungi dominated over the first 2-3 weeks. Later, in spite of falling water temperatures and salinity, they were replaced by typical mangrove/marine ascomycetes and anamorphs. Up to 79% of bract mass loss occurred in 4 weeks; respective losses for basal stems and top stems were 88% and 51% through 8 weeks. The estimated durations of 50% mass loss (t50) were 4.5, 10.9 and 22.9 days for bract, basal stem and top stem, respectively. Accordingly, there were significant differences in daily decay coefficients (k) among substrates. Organic carbon and phenolics decreased steadily in all substrates. Phosphorus concentrations decreased, attained a minimum and increased again, reaching final concentrations similar to initial values. Nitrogen concentration increased through the end of the experiment. Cellulase, xylanase and pectinase in all sedge substrates generally peaked within 4 weeks. This is the first study on decomposition of the macrophyte C. malaccensis.
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U2 - 10.1515/BOT.2010.062
DO - 10.1515/BOT.2010.062
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78649836745
SN - 0006-8055
VL - 53
SP - 525
EP - 533
JO - Botanica Marina
JF - Botanica Marina
IS - 6
ER -
