Trophic Abilities of Trametes Gibbosa (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) With Respect to The Wood of Fagus Sylvatica

Article infoTrametes gibbosa is a widespread polypore fungus occurring throughout Europe and Asia.It is considered a saprotroph occasionally exhibiting parasitic activity.The aims of the present experimental work were to: (1) determine the ability of T. gibbosa pure culture to decompose beech wood under laboratory conditions, (2) test the trophic abilities of T. gibbosa by comparative analysis of the development of its mycelium inoculated into the stems of living beech trees and into beech rollers (stem segments -dead substrate).The laboratory wood decay experiment revealed considerable weight loss of the beech wood samples exposed to T. gibbosa (32.7% after 120 days).Identification of the mycelium used for inoculation in natural forest conditions was done by morphological analysis of the cultures and molecular barcoding.Attempts to recover T. gibbosa mycelium were made after two and eight years for the living trees, and after two years for the rollers.While T. gibbosa could not be reisolated from the inoculated beech trees, basidiomata were observed on the beech rollers, and genetically verified T. gibbosa mycelium was extracted from them.We conclude that T. gibbosa exhibits strong saprotrophic inclinations.