Fungi associated with decomposing leaf litter of cashew ( <i>Anacardium occidentale</i> )

Abstract

The biodiversity of microfungi associated with decomposing leaf litter of Anacardium occidentale and the pattern of fungal colonization was investigated. Fungi colonizing decomposing litter were induced to sporulate by a moist chamber incubation technique. A total of 77 species belonging to 57 genera were recorded. Depending on the first appearance of the fungi and their persistence, three main groups of fungal colonizers were identified: (1) fungi that occurred initially during early stages of decomposition and disappeared as decomposition progressed; (2) fungi that showed less initial activity but gradually increased their activity and declined in the final stages; (3) fungi that appeared in the late stages of decomposition.