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Decomposition of 14C‐Labeled Cell Wall and Cytoplasmic Fractions from Hyaline and Melanic Fungi
Author(s) -
Hurst H. M.,
Wagner G. H.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1969.03615995003300050025x
Subject(s) - mycelium , biology , cell wall , hyaline , fungus , botany , geotrichum , aspergillus niger , cytoplasm , penicillium , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
A hyaline fungus, Aspergillus niger , and an unnamed melanic fungus isolated from a soil sclerotium were grown on 14 C glucose, fractionated into cell wall and cytoplasmic components, and the fractions analyzed for C, H, N, OCH 3 , and specific activity. The cell wall fraction from the melanic fungus was higher in C and OCH 3 content than that from the hyaline organism. The fractions were incorporated into soil samples and 14 CO 2 evolved was determined during 6 months. The rate of decomposition for cell wall material of both organisms was initially lower than that for cytoplasmic material. The hyaline cell wall decomposed at a relatively steady rate for a prolonged period, and after 6 months 70% of the C in this fraction had been lost as CO 2 compared with 62% of the C in the cytoplasmic fraction. Cell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of the melanic species were strongly pigmented and resistant to decomposition with 35% and 48% of the C in these respective fractions evolved as CO 2 . The decomposition of complete, non‐fractionated tissue of additional fungi was also studied. Hyaline organisms ( Penicillium sp., Schizophyllum commune, Polystictus versicolor, Lenzites sp.) had a lower C content and underwent rapid decomposition in comparison with melanic organisms ( Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, Cladosporium sp., Cenococcum graniforme, Mycelium radicis‐atrovirens, Macrophomina phaseoli ).