Fungi of the Windmill Islands, continental Antarctica. Effect of temperature, pH and culture media on the growth of selected microfungi

• Published in: Polar biology Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 128 - 134
• Main Authors: AZMI, O. R, SEPPELT, R. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-08-1997; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alternaria alternata; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Culture media; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Islands; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Nectria; Phoma; Proteins; Soil; Soils; Thelebolus microsporus; Antarctica; Antarctica, Wilkes Land, Budd Coast, Windmill Is; Fungi; Culture medium; Temperature; Growth; Continental zone; Organic soil; pH; Environmental factor; Polar region; Microorganism; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0722-4060; 1432-2056
• DOI: 10.1007/s003000050167

Studies were conducted on microfungi isolated from soils in the Windmill Islands, continental Antarctica. Growth responses of Alternaria alternata, Chrysosporium pannorum, Nectria peziza, Thelebolus microsporus, Mycelia sterile and Phoma cf. herbarum to temperature, pH and culture media were investigated. Maximum growth occurred after 16 days, except in Nectria peziza and Thelebolus microsporus, where maximum growth occurred 12 days after inoculation. All isolates showed poor growth at 0°C. Maximum growth was obtained with temperatures ranging from 15 to 25°C. The optimum temperature for all fungi was 20°C. An acid medium favoured growth. Chrysosporium pannorum, Phoma cf. herbarum and Nectria peziza grew best at pH 3-4, whereas Mycelia sterile, Alternaria alternata and Thelebolus microsporus grew best at pH 5-6. The culture medium had little effect on growth, except for nutrient agar, which showed poor growth against all isolates with the exception of Thelebolus microsporus.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]