Abstract
A taxonomically diverse suite of fungi interacts with bryophytes as pathogens, parasites, saprobes, and commensals. Necrotrophic pathogens such as Tephrocybe palustris (Peck) Donk and Nectria mnii Döbbeler form patches of moribund gametophytes in otherwise healthy mats of mosses. These pathogens exhibit different methods of host cell disruption; N. mnii appears to displace the host cell protoplast with intracellular hyphae, while T. palustris causes host protoplast degeneration. Host responses to infection by bryopathogens are also variable. Host–pathogen relationships can be highly evolved, as in Bryophytomyces sphagni (Navashin) Cif., in which fungal propagules replace the bryophyte spores, and exploit the explosive dispersal mechanisms of the Sphagnum host. Bryophilous parasites tend to exhibit high tissue or cellular specificity with varying host specificity. For example, Octospora similis (Kirchstein) Benkert infects the rhizoids of species of Bryum, and Discinella schimperi (Navashin) Redhead specifically colonizes the mucilage producing cells of stems of Sphagnum squarrosum Crome. Eocronartium muscicola (Pers.) Fitzp. demonstrates a highly evolved host–parasite relationship in which the basidiocarp displaces the sporophyte and is fed directly by the gametophyte through specialized transfer tissues. Fungi such as Oidiodendron maius Barron are capable of decomposing moss cell walls that are generally resistant to decomposition because of their polyphenolic component. Mycorrhizal fungi, including Glomus, Suillus, and Endogone, have not been observed to form functional, nutrient-exchanging mycorrhizal interfaces with bryophytes, rather, they function as saprobes on moribund and senescent gametophytes. Finally, endophytic fungi may provide bryophyte hosts with greater tolerance to extreme pH or promote vegetative growth. In vivo observation of bryophyte–fungus interactions has provided insight into the types of interactions that occur; however to further understand the physiology, anatomy, and etiology of these interactions, it is necessary to culture bryophilous fungi in vitro and create artificial axenic systems for study.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Necrotrophic fungi create patches of moribund moss gametophytes.
Verbatim
e0“Necrotrophic pathogens such as Tephrocybe palustris (Peck) Donk and Nectria mnii Döbbeler form patches of moribund gametophytes in otherwise healthy mats of mosses.”
Claim · model-written summary
Nectria mnii appears to displace moss host protoplasts with intracellular hyphae.
Verbatim
e0“N. mnii appears to displace the host cell protoplast with intracellular hyphae”
Claim · model-written summary
Tephrocybe palustris causes host protoplast degeneration.
- Taxon
- hoste0
- Interactor
- T. palustris
_Redhead_%26_V._Hofst_739302.jpg?width=60)
Sphagnurus palustere0pathogen - Outcome
- host protoplast degeneratione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Redhead_%26_V._Hofst_739302.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“T. palustris causes host protoplast degeneration”
Claim · model-written summary
Bryophytomyces sphagni propagules replace Sphagnum spores.
SphagnumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bryophytomyces sphagni (Navashin) Cif., in which fungal propagules replace the bryophyte spores, and exploit the explosive dispersal mechanisms of the Sphagnum host.”
Claim · model-written summary
Octospora similis infects Bryum rhizoids.
- Organ / stage
- rhizoidse0
- Interactor
- Octospora similisOctospora similise0parasite
- Outcome
- infects the rhizoidse0
_7856.jpg?width=60){kind=small}
BryumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_7856.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Octospora similis (Kirchstein) Benkert infects the rhizoids of species of Bryum”
Claim · model-written summary
Discinella schimperi colonizes mucilage-producing stem cells of Sphagnum squarrosum.
- Taxon
- Sphagnum squarrosum
Sphagnum squarrosume0 - Interactor
- Discinella schimperiDiscinella schimperie0parasite
- Outcome
- mucilage producing cells of stemse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Discinella schimperi (Navashin) Redhead specifically colonizes the mucilage producing cells of stems of Sphagnum squarrosum Crome.”
Claim · model-written summary
Eocronartium muscicola basidiocarps displace moss sporophytes and draw nutrition from gametophytes.
- Taxon
- gametophytee0
- Interactor
- Eocronartium muscicola
_Fitzp_334819.jpg?width=60)
Eocronartium muscicolae0parasite - Outcome
- basidiocarp displaces the sporophytee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Fitzp_334819.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Eocronartium muscicola (Pers.) Fitzp. demonstrates a highly evolved host–parasite relationship in which the basidiocarp displaces the sporophyte and is fed directly by the gametophyte through specialized transfer tissues.”
Claim · model-written summary
Oidiodendron maius can decompose moss cell walls.
- Taxon
- mosse0
- Interactor
- Oidiodendron maiusOidiodendron maiuse0
- Outcome
- moss cell wallse0
Verbatim
e0“Oidiodendron maius Barron are capable of decomposing moss cell walls”
Claim · model-written summary
Glomus, Suillus and Endogone have not been observed forming functional mycorrhizal interfaces with bryophytes and act as saprobes on dying gametophytes.
Endogone
Glomus_Singer.jpg?width=60){kind=small}
SuillusOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Singer.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Mycorrhizal fungi, including Glomus, Suillus, and Endogone, have not been observed to form functional, nutrient-exchanging mycorrhizal interfaces with bryophytes, rather, they function as saprobes on moribund and senescent gametophytes.”
Claim · model-written summary
Endophytic fungi may increase bryophyte tolerance to extreme pH or vegetative growth.
Verbatim
e0“endophytic fungi may provide bryophyte hosts with greater tolerance to extreme pH or promote vegetative growth.”