This book introduces what sclerotia grains are, and where and how they exist in soils, by compiling the results obtained from the studies on fungal sclerotia formed by Cenococcum geophilum (Cg) and related species, the visible black small grains persistent for a few thousand to ten thousands of years in forest soils and sediments. The chapters contain the results and discussions on the ecological distribution and regulating factors, characteristics, and function of Cg sclerotia grains, carried out by researchers from soil geography, soil science, soil microbiology, physiology, forestry, analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, material science, and related disciplines. The anatomy of sclerotia grains in soil was realized in terms of interdisciplinary joint researches, which resulted in deepening understanding of the ecological function of the mesoscale organic component in soils. This book covers the natural history of sclerotia in soils, pedo-sclerotiology.

The first book in the world dealing with fungal sclerotia in soils

Introduction.- Major and minor elemental composition SEM-EDS, EPMA, PIXE, C-NMR, FT-IR, Al-NMR, TEM-EDX.- Life age of Cg sclerotia 14C age and stable isotope ratiö13C.- Existing amount and strength properties of sclerotium grains.- Carbon decomposition and Al enrichment.- Micromorphology in sclerotium grains (Boemite, opaline silica).- Heavy metal concentration in sclerotia grains.- Fungal communities in sclerotia.- Sclerotia and Soil Anthropods -Niche differentiation of fungivorous Acari and Collembola in Japanese beech forest soils.- Bacterial communities in sclerotia Sphingomonas and Ralstonia picketti.- Sclerotium grains as Microbial carrier in soil.- Active aluminum status as regulating factor of sclerotium distribution Myoko,Podzols, Braunerde Harz mts. Germany.- Altitudinal and seasonal distribution of sclerotia grains.- Micro-topographical distribution of sclerotia grainsin Picea abies forest, Harz Mts.- Forest stand structure and sclerotium grains, Mt. Chokai, Central Japan.- Conclusion.