Tradeoffs between reproduction and mycelium production in the unit-restricted decomposer Coprinus cinereus

摘要

A laboratory experiment teas performed which examined tradeoffs between production of mycelium and reproduction (using stipe dry weight as an estimator of spore production) in the coprophilous mushroom species Coprinus cinereus. Isolates of the fungus taken from a single dikaryotic mycelium were grown in Petri plates containing yeast extract agar. Plates varied in diameter and resource density, but the total volume of agar was kept constant. Isolates grown in 100 mm and 150 mm diameter plates produced significantly less mycelium compared to isolates groan in 60 mm diameter plates. Within 60 mm plates there teas no correlation between the efficiency of mycelium production and fruit body production, but in larger plates there teas a significant negative correlation between the two. These results indicate that isolates grown on larger plates were less efficient at using resources than isolates grown on small plates, and that mycelium production is curtailed on larger plates to maintain spore production.