Fungi and fungal like organisms (FLO) make up a substantial portion of the living organisms found in soil, and represent literally thousands of different species. The diversity and specific organisms found differ based on the diversity of the croppingsystem, soil type, organic matter, soil cultivation and fertility, and a variety of environmental variables (i.e. temperature, moisture). Generally soil-borne fungi and FLO, for this discussion, can be classified into three groups; those that are plantparasitic (feed on living plants), those that are saprophytes (feed only on dead organic material), and those that can do both (facultative sapraphytes/ parasites), depending on life stage and the presence of a susceptible host and favourable environment. Research has shown that higher numbers of soil-borne fungi are found near the soil surface (somewhere between 5 and 15 cm) where oxygen, plant roots and accompanying root exudates are found in greater amounts.
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