Abstract
Sixty seven fungal species from the nonrhizosphere (NR), rhizopshere (RS) and cortical (RPC) and steler (RPS) parts of rhizopshere of crown (RC), middle (RM) and distal (RD) regions of decomposing roots of Pennisetum typhoides Burm. f.) Stapf. et Hubb. were isolated during December to June, 1970-72. The number of fungal species gradually decreased from NR—RPS in horizontal and RC—RD in vertical regions. The fungal population was always higher in RS of different depths than in corresponding NR regions. The amino acids and sugar components of the roots showed a direct correlation with the fungal population. The amount of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin components of roots gradually decreased from December to June. Root-washing collected from RC, RM and RD regions exhibited the presence of vanillic acid and 3-4 dihydroxy benzoic acid during March and April. It also exerted an adverse effect on the 10 rhizosphere fungi during this period. pH and moisture contents showed a poor correlation with the fungal population cxcept during summer months. Phycomycetes with species of Deuteromycetes obtained in the first phase were followed by Deuteromycetes along with few Ascomycetes in the second phase. In the last Deuteromycetes with some slerile mycelia were isolated. Aspergilli were the most numerous throughout the present investigation.
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