Journal on New Biological Reports 2(2): 67-70 (2013) ISSN 2319 – 1104 (Online)
Notes on wood rotting fungi from India (1): Trametes versicolor - The Turkey Tail
Ajay Kumar Gautam
Department of Botany, Abhilashi Institute of Life Sciences, Mandi -175008, Himachal Pradesh ,India
(Received on: 17 April, 2013; accepted on: 12 May, 2013)
ABSTRACT
Wood decaying fungi possess considerable ability to decompose lignified cells of coarse woody materials using enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. These fungi also cause serious damage to roots and standing tree trunks and finally destroying the mechanical strength of wood. The present paper is the first of this series describing wood rotting fungus i.e. Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd. The information is provided with illustrations, description and notes on symptoms. T. versicolor, a colorful cap shaped white-rot basidiomycete, found throughout temperate and subtropical zones of all continents to infect and infest a variety of species in nearly all hardwood tree genera and many conifer species. Caps are sessile normally 1.6 - 6.8 cm wide and 1-3mm in thickness, grows singly, sometimes overlapping either in a row or a rosette, with multicolored concentric zoning on the upper surface. Hyphae are trimitic: generative hyphae are thin-walled with clamps, 1.5-2.5 um in diameter; skeletal hyphae thick-walled, nonseptate, 3.0 - 4.0 um in diameter; binding hyphae are also thick-walled, nonseptate, heavily branched, 1.5 - 2.0 um in diameter.
Key Words: Wood rotting fungi , Trametes versicolor , taxonomy, notes , India
INTRODUCTION
Wood decaying fungi play important role in DESCRIPTION OF THE HOST - PATHOGEN ecological nutrient cycling due to their ability to INTERACTION decompose lignified cells of coarse woody materials using enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions (Cui et The hosts al. 2006). Although, the major use of these fungi in pulp and paper industry is based on this approach but, Trametes versicolor can be found throughout all they also cause serious damage to roots and standing temperate and most subtropical zones on all tree trunks through posing urban environmental continents to infect and infest a variety of plant stresses i.e. general weakening of the tree defense species in nearly all hardwood tree genera and many system to frequent injuries on branches and roots, conifer species. The fungus is commonly collected on allowing the wood-rotting agents to gain entry standing dead or fallen hardwood trees. The major through wounds and making serious loss of wood known hosts in India are; species of Acacia, Quercus , mechanical strength finally (Lonsdale 1999). Prunus , Abies , Pinus sp. and many more standing The present paper describes important wood dead or fallen hardwood trees. Along with other rotting fungi with illustrations and description along species, Trametes versicolor is a prime wood with notes on symptoms. Trametes versicolor decomposer, causing strong white rot in the (L.) Lloyd is described as the first wood rotting fungi colonized wood. in this series.
Corresponding author: [email protected]
67
Ajay Kumar Gautam
Fig. 1. Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd - upper and lower surfaces of the fungus
The Pathogen
Taxonomical details to degrade lignocelluloses (Tanaka et al. 1999; Collin & Dobson 1997), the fungus produces and secretes Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd 1920 cellobiose dehydrogenase, laccase, manganese peroxidases and lignin peroxidases (Dumonceaux Mycological Writings, 6: 1029-1101 1998; Paice 1993; Dodson 1987; Johansson et al
2002). Basionym: Boletus versicolor L. 1753 Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd is a
common polypore mushroom cosmopolitan in Synonyms: distribution. It appeared as cap or fan shaped usually Boletus versicolor L. 1.6 - 6.8 cm wide with fuzzy or velvety appearance. Coriolus azureus (Fr.) G. Cunn. Caps are sessile normally 1 - 3mm in thickness, Coriolus versicolor (L.) Quel. grows singly, sometimes overlapping either in a row Polyporus versicolor (L.) Fr. or a rosette, flat to wavy and with multicolored Polystictus azureus Fr. concentric zoning on the upper surface (Fig. 1). Pores Polystictus versicolor (L.) Fr. bearing side is whitish in colour. Spores are 3 - 4.5 × Trametes azurea (Fr.) G. Cunn. 1.5-2 um in size; cylindrical to sausage-shaped; Trametes versicolor (L.) Pilat. smooth; hyaline. Basidiospores and fusoid cystidioles
are also present. Hyphae are trimitic; generative Trametes versicolor a colorful bracket fungus, now hyphae are thin-walled with clamps, 1.5 - 2.5 um in known as Turkey Tail (Roger 2006). It is one of the diameter; skeletal hyphae thick-walled, nonseptate, most competent wood-degrading white-rot fungi of 3.0 - 4.0 um in diameter; binding hyphae are also class Agaricomycetes of the division Basidiomycota. thick-walled, nonseptate, heavily branched, 1.5 - 2.0 It belongs to Polyporales order and family um in diameter (Fig. 2). Polyporaceae. Due to the ability of T. versicolor
68
Journal on New Biological Reports 2(2): 67-70 (2013)
Fig. 2. A-F- Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd. A — Basidiospores, B — Basidia, C — Fusoid cystidioles, D — Skeletal hyphae, E — Binding hyphae, F — Generative hyphae
69
Ajay Kumar Gautam
CONCLUSION
Trametes versicolor, a white Dodson PJ, Evans CS, Harvey PJ, Palme JM. 1987. rot basidiomycete , grows on tree trunks and can be Production and properties of an extracellular found all over the world in different climates. The peroxidase from Coriolus versicolor which fungus is known to infect and infest species in nearly catalyses C α-Cβ cleavage in a lignin model all hardwood tree genera, and many conifer species compound . FEMS Microbiol Letters 42: 17— are also hosts of this fungus. The extensive host 22. range of T. versicolor makes it a fungus of industrial Dumonceaux TJ, Bartholomew KA, Charles interest. Many scientific studies evaluated the wood TC, Moukha SM, Archibald FS. 1998. Cloning degradation capacity of present fungus and reported and sequencing of a gene encoding cellobiose that T. versicolor can causes the simultaneous dehydrogenase from Trametes versicolor. Gene degradation of lignin, cellulose, and hemicelluloses. 210: 211—219. Additionally, it has a long history of use in Asia as Johansson T, Nyman PO, Cullen D. 2002. medicine (Standish et al. 2008), which boosts the Differential Regulation of mnp2, a New research interest of scientific community in this Manganese Peroxidase-Encoding Gene from the fungus to explore it as bio-agent for the treatment of Ligninolytic Fungus Trametes versicolor PRL textile industries effluents and for medicinal 572 . Appl Environ Microbiol. 68: 2077—2080. approach. Lonsdale D. 1999. Principles of Tree Hazard Assessment and Management. Research for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Amenity Trees 7. The Stationery Office, London, UK. pp388. The authors are most indebted to Head, Department Lloyd CG. 1921. Mycological Notes 65. Mycological of Botany, Abhilashi Institute of Life Sciences Writings 6: 1029—1101. (AILS) for facilitating laboratory and help during Paice MG, Reid ID, Bourbonnais R, Archibald FS, field work. Sincere thanks to Dr Babita Thakur, Jurasek L. 1993. Manganese Peroxidase, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, AILS for Produced by Trametes versicolor during Pulp their valuable support in camera lucida drawings. Bleaching, Demethylates and Delignifies Kraft Pulp . Appl Environ Microbiol 59: 260—265. REFERENCES Standish LJ, Wenner CA, Sweet ES, Bridge C, Nelson A, Martzen M, Novack J, Torkelson Collin PJ, Dobson A.1997. Regulation of Laccase C. 2008. Trametes versicolor mushroom immune gene transcription in Trametes versicolor. Appl therapy in breast cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol 6: Environ Microbiol 63 : 3444—50. 122—8. Cui BK, Wei YL, Dai YC. 2006. Polypores from Tanaka H, Itakura S, Enoki A. 1999. Hydroxyl Zijin Mountain, Jiangsu Province. Mycosystema radical generation by an extracellular low- 25: 9—14. molecular-weight substance and phenol oxidase activity during wood degradation by the white- rot basidiomycete Trametes versicolor. J Biotech 36: 57—70. Roger P. 2006. Mushrooms. Pub. McMilan, ISBN 0- 330- 44237-6. p314.
70