Fungi weathering

Forster (1961, 1963) reported a similar release and uptake of K by the mycelium of A. niger and a variety of other soil fungi when incubated with orthoclase and oligoclase. Weed et al. (1969) demonstrated that fungi weathered biotite, muscovite and phlogopite to vermiculite by acting as a sink for the K released from these minerals. Wheat plants apparently function in this manner during the alteration of biotite to vermiculite (Mortland etal., 1956). 

F. Paris, P. Bonnaud, J. Ranger, M. Robert, and F. Lapeyrie, Weathering of ammonium- or calcium-saturated 2 1 phyllosilicates by ectomycorrhizal fungi in vitro. Soil Biol. Biochein. 27 1237 (1995). 

The air that we breathe is full of microbial cells and spores of bacteria and fungi. Because they are extremely light they are readily are carried by wind currents. In hot weather soil, a rich source of all types of microbes, turns to dust and increases the airborne microbial population... 

A review of the available literature allows a hierarchical ranking of the importance of different factors that influence the pre-harvest infection of cereal grains by Fusarium weather/climate (year) > inoculum pressure/tillage/ previous crop > fungicides > available plant nitrogen. The individual factors related to other fungi are described in separate sections below. 

Saprophytic, dark pigmented fungi such as Alternaria spp. can infect a wide range of plant species, especially tissues that are exposed to other biotic or abiotic stressors and older and senescing plant tissues. Also, wet weather conditions favour attack by Alternaria spp. Inoculum of Alternaria and potentially production of altemariol is further enhanced when cereal straw and stubble is left on the soil surface and not sufficiently incorporated into the soil after harvest (direct seeding and minimum tillage systems). 

Wang TSC, Li SW (1977) Clay minerals as heterogeneous catalysts in preparation of model humic substances. Z Pfanzenemaehr Bodenkd 140 669-676 Weed SB, Dave CB, Cook MG (1969) Weathering of micas by fungi. Soil Sci Soc... 

The fact that the fungal population on dew-retted flax and hemp consists very largely of the same field fungi found on field-weathered cotton fiber was noted earlier Alternaria and Cladosporium herbarum are prominent (17). 

Microorganisms readily able to degrade hydrocarbons were found in the Neuse River estuary in North Carolina. Although the estuary was relatively free of hydrocarbon contamination, 63% of the bacteria and 71% of the fungi isolated from surface water samples were able to utilize kerosene as the sole carbon source (Buckley et al. 1976). Weathered kerosene (volatile components were allowed to escape prior to testing) was spiked with four marker hydrocarbons, and the degradation of the markers was monitored. 

Kiln-drying does not depend on the weather and, in addition, due to the high temperature used, the wood is essentially sterilized. However, if kiln drying is delayed mould and sapstain fungi may discolor the wood. 

The color and the appearance of weathered wood can be affected, to a marked degree, by dark-colored spores and mycelia of fungi (4,10). When these grow on a wood surface, they contribute significantly to the dark gray appearance of weathered wood. 

The artificial induction of noble rot would greatly facilitate making botrytized sweet wine, extending their production to countries where conditions are unfavorable for the natural development of noble rot. Experiments have long been performed to this end. In the earliest work, Nelson and Amerine (1956) unsuccessfully tried to induce its development in the vineyard by inoculation. The necessary moisture condition after inoculation was impossible to reproduce under field conditions. In addition, the method creates the risk that other fungi (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus), yeasts and, acetic acid bacteria could develop if unfavorable weather conditions arose (Dittrich, 1977). 

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