Use of volatiles by fungi and effects of heavy metals during growth under oligotrophic conditions

Abstract EN

Growth of both aspergilla's onjZae and Verticillium literatim, on nutrient-free silica gel medium, was increased in an atmosphere of the volatile hydrocarbons acetone and benzene.

Under these conditions the fungi produced an extensive network of vacuole-rich, fine mycelium.

The technique used could be modified to determine the ability of fungi to utilize individual volatiles, or volatile-rich mixtures, produced by microorganisms, or natural substrates such as wood and decaying leaf litter.

The biomass of both fungi decreased with decreasing carbon concentration and the addition of heavy metals, in turn, decreased biomass production over the full carbon concentration range.

The toxic effect of all heavy metals tested decreased with decreasing carbon concentration.