Different effectors of dimorphism in Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica is an ascomycete with biotechnological potential. In common media, the fungus grows as a mixture of yeast-like and short mycelial cells. The environmental factors that affect dimorphism in the wild-type strain, W29, and its auxotrophic derivative, PO1a, were analyzed. In both strains, pH was the most important factor regulating the dimorphic transition. Mycelium formation was maximal at pH near neutrality and decreased as pH was lowered to become almost null at pH 3. Carbon and nitrogen sources, namely glucose and ammonium, were also important for mycelium formation; and their effect was antagonized by some alternative carbon and nitrogen sources. Citrate was an important positive effector of mycelium growth. Anaerobic stress induced formation of mycelial cells. The importance of the protein kinase A pathway was suggested by the inhibition of mycelium growth by cAMP. We propose that the interplay of these factors regulates the adaptation of the fungus, to better exploit its natural ecological niches.     

Effect of specific amino acids on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus in defined media

Four amino acids were used as sole nitrogen sources or as supplements to ammonium sulfate, and casein and ammonium sulfate were used as sole nitrogen sources to examine their effects on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 and Aspergillus flavus 3357 grown on synthetic liquid media. In general, when proline, asparagine, casein, and ammonium sulfate were used as sole nitrogen sources, they supported more growth and toxin production than tryptophan or methionine. However, proline stimulated more toxin production per gram of mycelium in stationary cultures than the other nitrogen sources, including the amino acid asparagine, which is generally recognized as supporting good aflatoxin production. The exact responses to individual nitrogen sources were influenced by the species of fungus and whether cultures were stationary or shaken. In shake cultures, but not in stationary cultures, increased growth was generally associated with increased toxin production.     

Effect of specific amino acids on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus in defined media.

Four amino acids were used as sole nitrogen sources or as supplements to ammonium sulfate, and casein and ammonium sulfate were used as sole nitrogen sources to examine their effects on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 and Aspergillus flavus 3357 grown on synthetic liquid media. In general, when proline, asparagine, casein, and ammonium sulfate were used as sole nitrogen sources, they supported more growth and toxin production than tryptophan or methionine. However, proline stimulated more toxin production per gram of mycelium in stationary cultures than the other nitrogen sources, including the amino acid asparagine, which is generally recognized as supporting good aflatoxin production. The exact responses to individual nitrogen sources were influenced by the species of fungus and whether cultures were stationary or shaken. In shake cultures, but not in stationary cultures, increased growth was generally associated with increased toxin production.     

Glutamine requirement for aerial mycelium growth in Neurospora crassa

Five amino acids are accumulated during vegetative growth of Neurospora crassa, particularly.during the prestationary growth phase. Alanine, glutamine, glutamate, arginine and ornithine.comprised over 80% of the total amino acid pool in the mycelium. Amino acid pools of different amino acid auxotrophs were followed during the partial transformation of a mycelial mat into an aerial mycelium. The mycelial mat under starvation and in direct contact with air rapidly formed aerial mycelium, which produced thereafter a burst of conidia. During this process,glutamine and alanine in the mycelial mat were consumed more rapidly than other amino acids;in the growing aerial mycelium, glutamate and glutamine were particularly accumulated. Of the amino acids that were initially accumulated in the mycelial mat, only a high glutamine pool was required for aerial mycelium growth induced by starvation. This requirement for glutamine could not be satisfied by a mixture of the amino compounds that are synthesized via glutamine amidotransferase reactions. It is proposed that glutamine serves as a nitrogen carrier from the mycelial mat to the growing aerial mycelium.     

The Development and Behaviour of Mycelial Strands in Merulius lacrymans (Wulf.) Fr.: I. Strand Development during Growth from a Food-base through a Non-nutrient Medium

Strand development by Merulius lacrymans was followed by directobservation of the surface growth of the fungus from a woodfood-base over a moist non-nutrient medium contained in glasstubes. The first-formed mycelium contained no visible strand-likeaggregations and strand initials became apparent in a relativelynarrow physiological age of mycelium behind the mycelial margin.New growth in the older parts of the mycelium consisted of increasein thickness of some of these strand initials, except where‘sprouting’ of strands occurred. Visible surfacematuration of strands did not take place and some strands continuedto increase in thickness over the longest experimental periodused. In tubes the rate of strand formation remained constantwith increasing distance from the food-base and longitudinalsystems of strands were built up. Evidence is given that alteringthe size or distance away of the food-base affects the densityof mycelium and strands more than it affects the growth-rateof individual hyphae of the mycelial margin.     

SOME FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH OF APHANOMYCES EUTEICHES IN SYNTHETIC MEDIA

Papavizas , G. C., and C. B. Davey . (USDA, ARS, Crops Research Division, Beltsville, Maryland.) Some factors affecting growth of Aphanomyces euteiches in synthetic media. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(9) : 758–765. Illus. 1960.—Some nutritional requirements of 3 single-zoospore isolates of Aphanomyces euteiches Drechsler were studied in a synthetic medium (SM-1) consisting of mineral salts, D-glucose, DL-glutamic acid, and thioglycolic acid. Micronutrients were essential for growth, whereas vitamins were not. Controlled pH experiments showed that the fungus has a relatively wide pH range (5.2–7.7) for growth with an optimal range between 5.4 and 6.5. When the pH of the medium was maintained within the optimal range by periodic adjustments, ammonium nitrogen was utilized as the sole source of nitrogen. Nitrate nitrogen was unavailable to the fungus under all conditions. DL-glutamic acid was superior as a nitrogen source to either the D or the L isomer. Growth rate and final mycelial dry weight in a synthetic medium (SM-2) containing 14 amino acids in proportions found in 1.0% solution of yeast extract approximated those obtained in complex media. Mycelial dry weights in SM-2 were superior to those obtained in the glucose-glutamic acid-thioglycolic acid medium, but this superiority was due to DL-methionine, a sulfur-containing compound of the amino acid mixture. Sulfates were not utilized as sole source of sulfur, whereas cysteine, cystine, and thioglycolic acid supported fair amounts of growth. The optimal sulfur concentrations from thioglycolic acid for growth in SM-1 were between 128 and 192 mg/1. Mycelial yields equalling or exceeding those supported by complex media were obtained with high concentrations of D-glucose and DL-glutamic acid.     

Effect of yeast extract and succinic acid on growth and sporulation of alternaria species

Summary Alternaria solani andA. nyctanthi, these pathogens causing leafspot disease were able to metabolize a variety of nitrogen compounds when grown on different culture media. The amount of growth varied with the nitrogen source. Peptone produced the best zonation when added in definite proportion to the yeast extract medium. Ammonium compounds were found to be moderately effective for growth but poor for sporulation. The effect of adding succinic acid in media containing ammonium sources and the role of pH in the utilization of nitrite nitrogen was investigated.The fungus gave more vegetative growth on a mixture of aminoacids than in culture media in which the same amino acids were supplied singly to study the effect produced on growth and sporulation.     

Growth morphology of Streptomyces akiyoshiensis in submerged culture: influence of pH, inoculum, and nutrients.

Most media in which the growth of shaken submerged cultures of Streptomyces akiyoshiensis was examined did not support the formation of well-dispersed mycelial suspensions. Investigation of the culture conditions promoting dispersed growth showed the pH of the culture medium to be of critical importance; an initial value of 5.5 minimized aggregation of the mycelium while supporting adequate biomass production. In cultures started at this pH, spore inocula gave better mycelial dispersal than did vegetative inocula; with spore inocula, growth morphology was also less affected by inoculum size. The composition of the nutrient solution influenced the extent of mycelial dispersal; slow growth was often associated with clumping but no clear correlation was observed between pellet formation and the ability of carbon or nitrogen sources to support rapid growth. Increasing the phosphate concentration from 0.5 to 15 mM caused a modest decrease in mycelial aggregation. Conditions promoting a well-dispersed mycelium suitable for studying the physiological control of secondary metabolism also supported the formation of 5-hydroxy-4-oxonorvaline by S. akiyoshiensis.     

马铃薯干腐病菌硫色镰孢的生物学特性

从碳源、氮源、酸碱度及生长温度等方面对引起马铃薯干腐病的硫色镰孢Fusarium sulphureum的生物学特性进行了研究。结果表明,该病原菌在不同发育阶段对营养和环境条件的要求存在差异。在固体培养基上,菌落生长最佳碳源为葡萄糖、麦芽糖,最佳氮源为蛋白胨,pH8?为最佳;在液体培养基中,菌丝体生长以麦芽糖为最佳碳源,以硝酸钠为最佳氮源,pH6?为最佳;在分生孢子萌发阶段,在以羧甲基纤维素钠、蛋白胨和谷氨酸为碳、氮源的营养液中,分生孢子萌发率最高,最适pH 6–8。该病菌最适生长温度为25℃,分生孢子致死     

Growth of and trehalase activity in the thermophilic fungusThermomyces lanuginosus

The thermophilic fungus,Thermomyces lanuginosus, was grown in a glucose-asparagine liquid medium. Optimal mycelial growth occurred at 50°C. The conditions for sporulation were different from those required for vegetative growth. the former being favoured by lower nitrogen level and temperature. Trehalase (α, α-glu coside-l-glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.28) was one of the most active glycosidases at 50°C. Non-sporulating mycelium had higher levels of this enzyme than the sporulating mycelium. Trehalase was synthesized constitutively and its activity appears to be controlled by catabolite repression.     

Nitrogen amendments reduce the growth of extramatrical ectomycorrhizal mycelium

The effect of three different nitrogen sources on the growth of external ectomycorrhizal mycelium was studied in Perspex micorocosms. Nonsterile peat was used as substrate. Five different fungal isolates growing in symbiosis with pine seedlings were investigated: two isolates of Paxillus involutus, one of Suillus bovinus and two unidentified ectomycorrhizal fungi isolated from ectomycorrhizal root tips. Three different nitrogen sources were used: ammonium as (NH₄)₂SO₄, nitrate as NaNO₃ and a complete nutrient solution (Ingestad 1979), and three different nitrogen concentrations, 1, 2 or 4 mg N/g dry wt. of peat. The mycelial growth of all fungi was found to be negatively affected by the nitrogen amendments, although the sensitivity to nitrogen varied between the isolates. One of the unidentified isolates was extremely sensitive and growth was completely inhibited by all nitrogen treatments. In contrast, the growth of one of the P. involutus isolates was only slightly reduced by the nitrogen amendments. The different nitrogen sources all reduced growth, and since no significant difference was found between the nitrogen sources or between the different nitrogen concentrations the results were pooled to give one value that summarized the effect of nitrogen on mycelial growth. Thus, the mycelial growth of one of the two P. involutus isolates was reduced to approximately 80% of the growth in the control, the other P. involutus and one of the unidentified fungi, vgk 2 89.10, were reduced to 40–50% of the control growth, S. bovinus to 30% of the control and the most sensitive fungus, the unidentified isolate vg 1 87.10, was reduced to 3% of the growth in the control treatment. In all experiments, the shoot to root ratio generally increased, mainly as a result of increased shoot growth.     

The influence of purine bases upon the growth of Streptomyces rimosus

Summary The BS-21 strain of Streptomyces rimosus can utilize adenine, and guanine, as sole nitrogen sources, and in small concentrations, can increase the mycelium production in media containing threonine, ornithine and cysteine, further, it initiates growth in media containing valine, isoleucine, leucine and oxyproline. Pyrimidine bases are unsuitable as exclusive nitrogen sources, and unlike purine bases, do not increase growth in the presence of the nitrogen sources listed before. The yield of oxytetracycline follows the production rate of mycelium production.     

Effects of carbon and nitrogen sources,carbon-to-nitrogen ratio,and initial pH on the growth of nematophagous fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pochonia chlamydosporia</Emphasis> in liquid culture

The effects of carbon and nitrogen sources, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) and initial pH value on the growth and sporulation of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia in liquid culture were examined. Among the 21 carbon sources and 15 nitrogen compounds tested, the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for mycelial growth were sweet potato and L-tyrosine, and for sporulation were sweet potato and casein peptone. A C:N ratio of 10:1 at pH 3.7 gave the maximum yield of conidia and a C:N ratio of 40:1 at pH 6.8 gave the maximum biomass. The initial pH value had a significant effect on mycelial growth and conidial production, with the optimal ranges being 3.5–4.5 for sporulation and 5–6 for growth. Maximum conidial production was obtained at an initial pH of 4.0 and the maximum biomass at pH 6.0. The results also showed that the final pH after 7 days cultivation was always higher than the initial value. The variability in growth and sporulation of seven strains of P. chlamydosporia in liquid culture was also compared and discussed.     

Submerged culture conidial germination and conidiation of the bioherbicideColletotrichum truncatum are influenced by the amino acid composition of the medium

Summary Submerged culture experiments were conducted to determine the optimal nitrogen source for rapidly producing conidia of the bioherbicide,Colletotrichum truncatum. Germination ofC. truncatum conidial inocula in submerged culture occurred most rapidly (>95% in 6 h) in media provided with a complete complement of amino acids. When (NH₄)₂SO₄, urea, or individual amino acids were provided as the sole nitrogen source, conidial germination was less than 20% after 6 h incubation. Conidia production was delayed inC. truncatum cultures grown in media with urea or individual amino acids as nitrogen sources compared to cultures supplied with Casamino acids or complete synthetic amino acid nitrogen sources. The use of methionine, lysine, tryptophan, isoleucine, leucine or cysteine as a sole nitrogen source severely inhibitedC. truncatum conidia production. Media with synthetic amino acid mixtures less these inhibitory amino acids produced significantly higher conidia yields compared to media with amino acid mixtures containing these amino acids. When various amounts of each individual inhibitory amino acid were added to media which contained amino acid mixtures, cysteine and methionine were shown to be most effective in reducing conidiation. An optimal nitrogen source forC. truncatum conidiation in submerged culture should contain a complete mixture of amino acids with low levels of cysteine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine and tryptophan for rapid conidiation and optimal conidia yield.The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the US Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Use of response surface methodology to examine chitinase regulation in the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa

We report here the first analysis of chitinase regulation in Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of the witches' broom disease of cacao. A multivariate statistical approach was employed to evaluate the effect of several variables, including carbon and nitrogen sources and cultivation time, on M. perniciosa non-secreted (detected in mycelium, i.e. in symplasm and cell wall) and secreted (detected in the culture medium) chitinase activities. Non-secreted chitinase activity was enhanced by peptone and chitin and repressed by glucose. Chitinase secretion was increased by yeast extract alone or in combination with other nitrogen sources, and by N-acetylglucosamine, and repressed in presence of chitin. The best cultivation times for non-secreted and secreted chitinase activities were 30 and 20 d, respectively. However, chitinase activity was always higher in the mycelium than in the culture medium, suggesting a relatively poor chitinase secretion activity. Conversely, higher mycelial growth was observed when the activity of the non-secreted chitinase was at its lowest, i.e. when the fungus was grown on glucose and yeast extract as sources of carbon and nitrogen, respectively. Conversely, the induction of non-secreted chitinase activity by chitin decreased the mycelium growth. These results suggest that the culture medium, by the induction or repression of chitinases, affected the hyphal growth. Thus, as an essential component of M. perniciosa growth, chitinases may be a potential target for strategies to control disease.     

Comparative mycelial and spore yield by Trichoderma viride in batch and fed-batch cultures

The effects of cultural parameters such as carbon and nitrogen source and environmental factors including temperature and pH were investigated on spore and mycelial yield of Trichoderma viride, which has potential as a biocontrol agent against species of Fusarium in batch culture and fed-batch culture where there was limiting nutrient. The results obtained indicated that growth and sporulation of T. viride were greatly influenced by various carbon and nitrogen sources, and by environmental factors such as pH and temperature. Mannitol, wheat bran and rice bran as sole carbon sources appear to stimulate high mycelial growth and spore yield in fed-batch culture. Growth and sporulation were also favoured by NaNO₃, peptone and NH₄SO₄ as the nitrogen sources in fed-batch and batch cultures_. Maximum growth and sporulation was between pH 4.5 and 6.0. Temperatures between 30 and 37 °C were good for mycelium growth of T. viride while temperatures between 30 to 45 °C were good for sporulation. The amount of spore and mycelium produced and the time required for attainment of maximum spore yield increased with increasing carbon and nitrogen source in batch culture. The final spore yield obtained in fed-batch culture was two times higher than the apparent spore-carrying capacity of batch culture. These results show that T. viride is capable of growing and sporulating with varied nutritional and environmental conditions, and, therefore, this strain of T. viride may be useful as a biocontrol agent under diverse physiological and environmental conditions.     

Morphogenesis and free amino acid composition of the ascomycete Sphaerostilbe repens as influenced by nitrogen and calcium

Abstract Sphaerostilbe repens utilizes nitrate and ammonium as nitrogen sources. Differentiation of mycelium into rhizomorphs and coremia was reduced in the presence of nitrate and completely inhibited in the absence of calcium. The most abundant free amino acids were, in decreasing order: alanine, glutamine, glutatomic acid, serine, aspartic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, arginine and threonine. These compounds represented 90% of the total amino acid pool.
The free amino acid composition did not vary with cultural conditions although concentrations of individual amino acids differed. In ammonium-grown cells, γ-aminobutyric acid increased in concentration and glutamate, aspartate and alanine decreased. Calcium-deficient media reduced amino acid concentrations, especially of arginine and ornithine. Amino acid contents increased during the growth period and were higher in rhizomorphs than in vegetative mycelia.     

三种香蘑属野生食用菌菌株的培养条件优化

【背景】供试菌株分别是分离自山西省宁武县管涔山的肉色香蘑Lepista irina、斑褶香蘑L. panaeolus和山西省蒲县五鹿山的紫丁香蘑L. nuda 3种野生食用菌的子实体。【目的】获得3种野生食用菌的最佳培养条件。【方法】以菌丝生长速度为指标研究不同碳源、氮源、碳氮比、pH和培养温度等各因素对菌丝生长的影响,根据Box-Benhnken中心组合试验设计原理,采用3因素3水平的响应面法确定使菌丝体达到最快生长速度的最佳培养碳源、氮源和pH。【结果】肉色香蘑在葡萄糖20.9 g/L、土豆196.47 g/L、pH 6.0、培养温度21 °C的条件下,菌丝日均生长速度达到最大,为1.13 mm/d;斑褶香蘑在甘露醇17.4 g/L、酵母膏8.1 g/L、B族维生素0.1 g/L、K2HPO4 2.5 g/L、MgSO4 2.5 g/L、pH 7.9、培养温度25 °C的条件下,菌丝日均生长速度达到最大,为0.73 mm/d;紫丁香蘑在土豆200 g/L、可溶性淀粉20.5 g/L、KNO3 2.1 g/L、K2HPO4 2.5 g/L、MgSO4 2.5 g/L、B族维生素0.1 g/L、pH 7.0、培养温度25 °C的条件下,菌丝日均生长速度达到最大,为2.38 mm/d。【结论】获得了3种香蘑属菌株的最佳培养条件,为后续优质野生食用菌的引种驯化积累了相关数据和资源。     

Effect of culture conditions on antifouling compound production of a sponge-associated fungus

Microorganisms associated with invertebrate hosts have long been suggested to be a source for bioactive metabolites. In this study, we reported that a sponge-associated fungus, Letendraea helminthicola, produced two antifouling compounds: 3-methyl-N-(2-phenylethyl) butanamide and cyclo(D-Pro-D-Phe). To optimize the production of these antifouling compounds, we then examined the production of compounds under different culture conditions (temperature, salinity, pH, and carbon and nitrogen sources). This fungus grew well and produced more compounds at temperatures between 18 and 30°C; the fungus grew well at 75 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity but produced the highest amount of antifouling compounds at 30 and 45 ppt. The optimal initial pH value for mycelial growth was 5.5 to 6.5, whereas the production of the antifouling compounds was maximized at pH 3.5 and 4.5. Glucose and xylose (as carbon sources) increased the production of antifouling compounds. Yeast extract and peptone (as nitrogen sources) maximized the production of mycelial biomass and antifouling compounds. Our results indicate that culture conditions greatly affect the production of bioactive compounds from mycelial fungal cultures as exemplified by strain L. helminthicola and that the conditions favorable for fungal growth may not be the best conditions for bioactive compound production.     

Change in medium components and colony morphology due to mycelial growth of ectomycorrhizal fungusTricholoma bakamatsutake

Mycelia ofTricholoma bakamatsutake isolate No. 4 grew at temperatures ranging from 10 to 30°C, and the optimum was around 25°C. In well-buffered media of initial pH 5.0 and 6.0, No. 4 mycelia secreted gluconic acid and lowered medium pH. Mycelial growth then accelerated slightly; and with the exhaustion of glucose, growth and secretion of gluconic acid stopped. In 10 different media of initial pH 4.0–7.0, No. 4 mycelia showed higher gluconic acid secretion with higher initial pH. No. 4 mycelial grew best in pH 5.0 media, in which gluconic acid secretion was low. Mycelia of 29 isolates including No. 4 grew better in the media in which less glucose, total carbon and total nitrogen remained, and almost all isolates secreted gluconic acid. Most of the 29 isolates showed irregular colony shapes with rough mycelial fronts, brown pigmentation and aerial hypha on colony surfaces, and brown pigmentation of media under colonies. Dissimilarities were calculated with coded morphological characters on colonies, and similarity between isolates was found not to correlate with proximity of origin. Chlamydospores were observed on every colony of the 29 isolates. Chlamydospores were present on colonies of No. 4, reaching to 2 mm from the mycelial front, where brown pigmentation had not yet developed, and the numbers of chlamydospores incresed with mycelial aging.