Mycorrhizal fairy rings

[David Humphries]

An almost complete circle of mycorrhizal Amanita sp that are 'tethered' to the peripheral roots of this lime

 

a few fruiting bodies within the circle but mostly forming around the circumference.

 

 

Would be interesting to see if any other species of saprophytic or mycorrhizal species ever cross within the ring.........or not.

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[David Humphries]

An almost complete circle of mycorrhizal Amanita sp that are 'tethered' to the peripheral roots of this lime

 

first noticed this fruiting in September 2011, but not aware that it fruited last year.

 

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[geoff]

I find that quite fascinating David.

[David Humphries]

I find that quite fascinating David.

 

I find it hard to quell the impulse to drag the compressor and airspade up here to investigate the phenomenon further

 

Although that would probably destroy the soil communities

 

 

Supposedly there's documented evidence from France of a fairy ring of

Clitocybe geotropa that's over half a mile in diameter and possibly 7-800 years old.

 

 

 

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[geoff]

I am not well read on the subject David, but find this thread rather intriguing, so much going on under the surface, with comparatively little sign above ground.

Excuse my naïve question, But I have seen on occasion the grass seems to be more lush in the circumference line of some of these rings, can you enlighten me?

[David Humphries]

Perhaps there's a difference between non-mycorrhizal rings and mycorrhizal rings in terms of the effect on above ground vegetation.

 

With the non-mycorrhizal species they may be starving the grass/vegetation within the ring by stripping the nutrients as the mass of mycelium expands outwards. This probably leaves a noticeable ring of grass where the nutrients haven't been used up yet.

 

Whereas the mycorrhizal species would be in symbiosis with the roots of plants getting carbohydrates etc from the roots of its host, leaving some nutrients in the rhizosphere.

 

 

Capisce?

 

 

Not entirely sure I do

 

 

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[RobArb]

Watch out with air spade you!

 

Don't want to go upsetting Ted now:biggrin:

 

 

Nice documentation though, seen something similar a few years back near me. (Before I knew about fung really)

[David Humphries]

Best not tell him about the veteran beech pollard at Burnham that we're about to air spade that's full of Meripilus then

 

Think he'd possibly self combust

 

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[geoff]

Perhaps there's a difference between non-mycorrhizal rings and mycorrhizal rings in terms of the effect on above ground vegetation.

 

With the non-mycorrhizal species they may be starving the grass/vegetation within the ring by stripping the nutrients as the mass of mycelium expands outwards. This probably leaves a noticeable ring of grass where the nutrients haven't been used up yet.

 

Whereas the mycorrhizal species would be in symbiosis with the roots of plants getting carbohydrates etc from the roots of its host, leaving some nutrients in the rhizosphere.

 

 

Capisce?

 

 

Not entirely sure I do

 

 

.

 

I get that, it could not have been explained it more efficiently, thank you.

[Eddy_t]

Perhaps there's a difference between non-mycorrhizal rings and mycorrhizal rings in terms of the effect on above ground vegetation.

 

With the non-mycorrhizal species they may be starving the grass/vegetation within the ring by stripping the nutrients as the mass of mycelium expands outwards. This probably leaves a noticeable ring of grass where the nutrients haven't been used up yet.

 

Whereas the mycorrhizal species would be in symbiosis with the roots of plants getting carbohydrates etc from the roots of its host, leaving some nutrients in the rhizosphere.

 

 

Capisce?

 

 

Not entirely sure I do

 

 

.

 

That does make perfect sense, would explain how the fusarium patch (M. nivale) takes effect on sports turf, and a few others for that matter

 

On another note, I once recently found a large colonisation of mycelium in a spike hole down 6 inches in a golf green, no idea what it was, I doubt it would be M. nivale with how deep it was, but I could be wrong

 

 

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