The Occurrence and Distribution of Saprolegniaceae in Certain Soils of South-East England. I: Occurrence

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Abstract
Saprolegniaceae have been definitely isolated from soil habitats since 1925, but since then no investigation has been carried out to determine whether Saprolegniaceae, which have usually been regarded as "water moulds", can become temporary soil invaders; or whether they persist as part of the fungal flora of the soil. A quadrat technique has been developed for monthly sampling of permanently marked soil areas for the presence of these fungi and this has been used in conjunction with a selective "baiting" technique for their isolation from the soil samples. Data obtained in this way demonstrate: (i) that Saprolegniaceae occur in a number of different types of soil in southeast England; (ii) that there is a relatively constant flora of Saprolegniaceae for any given site; (iii) that there is a seasonal fluctuation in the recorded frequency of these fungi, with maxima in spring and autumn; and (iv) that such fluctuations are independent of the relative frequencies of species isolated from any given quadrat and of the identity of the species recorded. In so far as it has been possible to apply statistical analysis, these fluctuations of recorded frequencies are found to be significant. In the course of this investigation nearly 4000 samples have been examined, and of these over 80% yielded isolates of the Saprolegniaceae. In only one quadrat area of the eighteen (BQ5) did it seem possible that no members of the Saprolegniaceae were indigenous, although even here occasional sporadic records were obtained.

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