Determination of Water, Solute and Turgor Potentials of Mycelium of Various Basidiomycete Fungi causing Wood Decay

Using thermocouple psychrometry, the water, solute and turgorpotentials of hyphae of Phallus impudicus and Serpula lacrimans,cords of P. impudicus, Phanerochaete velutina and S. lacrimansand rhizomorphs of Armillaria mellea were determined. A comparisonwas made between laboratory- and field-grown cords of P. impudicusand P. velutina. Comparison was made also between the waterrelations of the hyphae at the growing front, and hyphae ofthe more distal, basal regions. Similarly, the growing regionsof cords/rhizomorphs were compared with the older, non-extendingbasal regions of the same structures. In all cases gradientsof water and turgor potentials were found from basal, olderregions to younger, extending regions. These results are discussedin relation to the mechanism of translocation in fungi. Key words: Mycelium, Basidiomycotina, Turgor gradients, Translocation