Schizophyllum commune a Nigeria edible higher fungus is valued for its high nutritional composition. The major limitation to its availability and utilization is that it is seasonal in nature. The fungus was obtained from dead wood and maintained on potato dextrose agar supplemented with 0.5% peptone. We observed the effects of temperature, pH, vitamins and carbon source on the vegetative growth...

The effects of 22 pesticides on the mycelial growth and pathogenicity of the biocontrol fungus ARFI8 to Heterodera glycines were tested in vitro. The chemicals were added to agar at 10, 100, and 1,000 ppm a.i.; a block of agar containing the fungus was added to each test concentration; and fungal growth was measured. Subsequently, a block of the fungus on the pesticide-containing agar was used ...

Insects and fungi share a long history of association in various habitats, including the wood-decomposition niche. Fungal mimicry of termite eggs is one of the most striking evolutionary consequences of insect-fungus association. Termites of the genus Reticulitermes often harbor fungal sclerotia, called "termite balls," along with eggs in nursery chambers, whereby the fungus gains a competitor-...

Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid plants initially harvested if they prove to be harmful for their symbiotic fungus once incorporated into the nest. At this point, waste particles removed from the fungus garden are likely to contain cues originating from both the unsuitable plant and the damaged fungus. We investigated whether leaf-cutting ant foragers learn to avoid unsuitable plants solely thr...