Growth and spread of the woodchip associated fungus Leratiomyces ceres in undisturbed garden soils

A survey was undertaken to determine the extent of Leratiomyces ceres (syn. Stropharia aurantiaca sensu auct.) in soil surrounding apparently isolated occurrences of fungal fruit bodies on woodchip mulch. A molecular detection system with specific primers identified the fungus in the soil below woodchip in which fruit bodies had been noted in the previous year, and also in adjacent soil beyond the mulched area where fruiting had not been observed. The results indicate that L. ceres is widespread in the soil in the survey area, and possible reasons for this finding, and their implication for distribution studies are discussed.