Premium
OXALIC ACID SYNTHESIS BY THE MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS PAXILLUS INVOLUTUS (BATSCH. EX FR.) FR.
Author(s) -
LAPEYRIE F.,
CHILVERS G. A.,
BHEM C. A.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb04797.x
Subject(s) - oxalic acid , paxillus involutus , mycelium , oxalate , calcium , calcium nitrate , calcium oxalate , chemistry , bicarbonate , inorganic chemistry , mycorrhiza , botany , nuclear chemistry , biology , organic chemistry , symbiosis , bacteria , genetics
S ummary Oxalic acid produced by an isolate of the mycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus (Batsch. ex Fr.) Fr. in still broth culture was assayed using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Production of oxalic acid per unit of mycelium was influenced by nitrogen source and concentrations of exogenous calcium and bicarbonate ions. Nitrate‐grown mycelia produced large quantities of oxalic acid; ammonium‐grown mycelia produced small quantities regardless of what other ions were present. Calcium concentrations between 10 and 50 meq 1 −1 slightly enhanced oxalic acid production in the presence of nitrate; concentrations between 250 and 500 meq 1 −1 depressed production. Small additions of bicarbonate ions substantially increased oxalic acids production when nitrate was present. When calcium was present, most of the oxalic acid was associated with the mycelium, probably as calcium oxalate. In the absence of calcium, most of the oxalic acid occurred free in the culture medium. It is concluded that in calcareous soils, bicarbonate and nitrate are more important than calcium in stimulating oxalate production. The significance and underlying mechanisms of oxalate production are discussed.