The Role of Environmental Factors in Formation of Hyphal Aggregation in Fomitopsis betulina

Abstract

Fomitosis betulina is a brown rot fungus used in laboratory research. The species has a unique mycelial morphology in solid state culture, forming raised hyphal aggregations. To determine the impact of environmental factors, F. betulina was grown in extreme environmental conditions, including High Light, High Temperature, and High CO2 concentration. Hyphal aggregation counts were compared, and found to be significantly different in some but not all of the treatments. This suggests that environmental factors play a role in the formation of hyphal aggregations.