VIEW ARTICLE

Effects of Some Phenolic Compounds on the Growth of Phialophora melinii and Fomes connatus. Walter C. Shortle, Former Graduate Research Assistant, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Botany, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824, Present address of senior author: Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607; Terry A. Tattar(2), and Avery E. Rich(3). (2)(3)Graduate Student, and Plant Pathologist, respectively, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Botany, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824. Phytopathology 61:552-555. Accepted for publication 15 December 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-552.

The ability of Phialophora melinii and Fomes connatus to tolerate and to utilize certain phenolic compounds was studied in vitro to help explain successional patterns of fungi in living trees. Phialophora melinii, which is often isolated in advance of F. connatus in columns of discolored and decayed tissue in sugar maple, tolerated and utilized phenolic compounds which were toxic to F. connatus. The capacity of P. melinii to alter phenolic compounds, and thereby permit growth of F. connatus, was indicated. The effects of pH, manganese concentration, nitrogen source, amount of glucose present, and means of sterilization on the growth of these fungi in media containing phenolic compounds were also investigated.