Dry rot.
Some people classify this as a variety of brown rot caused by fungi that form large, semi-tough
root-like structures called rhizomorphs.
Rhizomorphs transport water, by capillary action, from a nearby damp area to the dry wood leading to decay.
The water source is commonly wet or damp soil.
Rhizomorphs.
Sometimes referred to as mycelial cords or strands, they are specialised hyphae.
They are thick walled bundles containing numerous hyphae and may be metres long.
They can be up to 3 mm thick although usually less and can be black, white, grey or yellow.
They have numerous functions depending on the situation.
- to transport oxygen through areas such as wet soil low in oxygen.
- to transport water – important in dry rot fungi.
- to explore for new areas of food and then rapidly colonise it as the numerous hyphae in the
strand grow to form a new mycelium.
J.F.
