The universe of basidiomycetous ground fungi

Although pileate saprobic ground fungi are primarily appreciated for their contributions to the bill of fare, their role in the mineralization of organic residues and xenobiotics in soil should not be underestimated. Enormous differences in their interactions with soil microorganisms and nonhost plants impair their artificial transfer to natural substrates. The paper reviews the impact of emanations from competing soil microorganisms, whole natural sods, and decaying plant material on mycelial growth and fruiting of some representative soil basidiomycetes; the rate of successful field inoculations with sterile spawn, start substrates, and transplanted pieces of natural fairy rings; factors contributing to soil fungistasis; and the problems of fungal succession enforced by nutrient depletion in, and the autotoxification of, the colonized substrate. Finally, the role of plant emanations on the activity of fungal oxidoreductase enzymes and the rate of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon degradation, as well as fungal influence on heavy-metal uptake by herbs will be discussed.