Abstract:
Agaric fungi found on fallen logs of different wood species in home gardens
were studied. Species richness and their substrate preferences were
determined by examining the fruit body formation, habit and frequency of
their appearance on the different wood. The effects of temperature, rain and
moisture on fruit body formation were also correlated. During the study period
36 fungal species were identified as wood-inhabiting agaric fungi on 25 homegarden
wood species. Frequency of appearance of fruit bodies was directly
related to the rainfall pattern, but amount of rainfall, temperature and relative
humidity did not show any relationship. The highest species richness was
found on Cocos nusifera, recording 16 agaric species. Artocarpus
heterophyllus, Tectonia grandis, Swietenia. macrophylla and Vitex altisima
showed resistance to macro fungal attack. Schizophyllum commune was
observed on 16 wood species as the commonest agaric species while 17 agaric
species recorded their preference to one particular wood species. Since there
was a high diversity of wood decaying agaric species inhabiting most of the
wood species in this semi-urbanized area, it is possible to cause considerable
damage to valuable wood and wood products in service resulting in economic
loss.
