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April 15, 2012

REDNECK QUAKER: ‘Fairy rings’ are more fungus than fantasy

Kenny Bayless The Tribune-Star

Since this year doesn’t appear to be very productive for morel mushrooms, here are some fun facts on another type of fungi:

The name fairy ring comes from an old folk tale. People once believed that mushrooms growing in a circle followed the path made by fairies dancing in a ring. Fairy rings are found on open, grassy places and in forests.

In grass, the best known fairy ring fungus has the scientific name Marasmius oreades. The body of this fungus, its mycelium, is underground. It grows outward in a circle. As it grows, the mycelium uses up all of the nutrients in the soil, starving the grass. This is the reason a fairy ring has dead grass over the growing edge of the mycelium. Umbrella-shaped fruiting bodies, called mushrooms, spring up from just behind the outer edge of the mycelium.

Large rings are created when the older mycelium in the center finally exhausts the soil nutrients and dies. On the death of the central mycelium, the nutrients are returned to the soil and grass can grow again.

The living edge of the mycelium continues to grow outward. As it grows, it secretes chemicals into the ground ahead. These chemicals break down the organic matter, releasing nutrients so that the mycelium will have food when it reaches this area. For a brief time, the grass at the outer edge of the ring also benefits. The extra nutrients make the grass darker green, taller and thicker than the rest of the lawn or pasture. This lush grass dies when the mycelium grows under it and steals the nutrients.

Fairy rings made by Marasmius oreades are called “free” rings. They will continue to grow outward until a barrier is reached. Sometimes the barrier is another fairy ring. Rings can grow into each other’s territory and die as each reaches the other “dead zone.”

If there are no barriers, free rings can grow outward at up to 8 inches per year. They can reach a diameter of more than 30 feet. One ring formed in France by the fungus Clitorybe geotropa is almost a half mile in diameter. This ring is thought to be 700 years old.

Mycorrhizal fungi, which live in symbiotic partnership with trees, also form fairy rings. Their rings are called “tethered” rings. A tether is like a leash. The fungus and its mycorrhizal partner tree need each other to survive. The mycelium of these fungi always remains joined to the trees roots. Roots are the “tether” that keeps the fairy rings of mycorrhiqal fungi from growing too far from the tree.

During periods of unfavorable conditions, low temperatures and drought, mushroom production and fungal activity stops and may not be resumed for month or years.

Fairy rings are very difficult to control with fungicides since the soil in the infected area is almost impervious to water. Some success has been achieved by aerating the soil and drenching the infected area with fungicide. A new fungicide Prostar from Agr Evo USA Company has shown good control of fairy ring.

If you see little short guys holding hands going in a circle, don’t plan on finding any mushrooms, Happy hunting!



Kenny Bayless can be reached by e-mail at kwbayless@aol.com.

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