Effects of prior decomposition of Camellia japonica leaf litter by an endophytic fungus on the subsequent decomposition by fungal colonizers

Abstract

Effects of prior decomposition of Camellia japonica leaf litter by an endophytic phyllosphere fungus Coccomyces sp. on the subsequent decomposition of the litter by Coccomyces sp. and two succeeding fungi Dermateaceae sp. and Xylaria sp. (anamorph) were examined in a pureculture decomposition test. The prior decomposition of litter by Coccomyces sp. stimulated the subsequent decomposition by the three fungi. Dermateaceae sp. caused negligible weight loss on litter previously partly decomposed by Coccomyces sp. and then by Dermateaceae sp. and on litter decomposed singly by Dermateaceae sp. Xylaria sp. (anamorph) caused greater weight loss in these litters than control, uninoculated litter.