Growth responses of aquatic hyphomycetes to different nitrogen sources

Sati S. C. & S. Bisht (2005). Growth responses of aquatic hyphomycetes to different nitrogen sources.

Sydowia 58 (1): 125 - 132.

Various nitrogenous compounds were examined for nitrogen nutrition of four selected aquatic hyphomycetes under controlled laboratory conditions. Potassium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and amino acids viz. alanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, proline, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and methionine were tested as nitrogen sources. Nitrates and ammonium ions were found as good nitrogen sources, with preference for the latter. The suitability of amino acids was found to be variable between species. Tetrachaetum elegans and Tetracladium marchalianum had their maximum growth in asparagine whereas, Pestalotiopsis submersus and Flagellospora penicillioides grew best in proline. Cysteine was observed as a good source of nitrogen for almost all the fungal isolates used.

Key words: Nitrogen requirements, physiology, nutrition, aquatic fungi.