 (2013) found that "C. geophilum" ectomycorrhizas persisted considerably longer in the soil than those of other ectomycorrhizal fungi.This resistance to decay is likely related to the heavy melanization of the cell wall found in "C. geophilum" hyphae which cannot be degraded with hydrolyzing enzymes and requires the implementation of oxadative enzymes, much like lignin in plant litters.