The chapter described in the following post is part of a very graphical powerpoint presentation on soil microbiology. This presentation is freely available at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany.
Bacteria and fungi are the main organisms involved in the decomposition of plant material.
- Bacteria and Fungi
Bacteria have evolved a number of useful properties for doing this job in the soil. Some of them can swim,,,
Swimming bacterium
…others can form spores to survive unsuitable conditions…
Bacterial spore
…while some have adopted a fungus-like life-style.
- Fungal life-style
Bacteria can communicate using various signal molecules.
- Bacterial communication
Bacteria can form protective biofilms.
- Biofilms
Fungi, in contrast, have a completely different way of living and of colonizing a given substrate.
Saprophytic fungus