Utilisation of carbohydrates by stain fungi in agar culture

IRG/WP 98-10248

J Snow, P Vinden, S M Read

Stain fungi are often defined by their ability to utilise the starch and free sugars found in ray parenchyma cells, and their inability to utilise other wood constituents. However, several species of stain fungi produce bore holes in wood cell walls. This suggests that enzymatic activity capable of degrading structural polysaccharides and/or lignin is associated with the growth of the appressorium and transpressorium structures developed by these stain fungi. This pilot study examined possible base media for growth of three common blue-stain fungi isolated from hardwood sawmills in Victoria, Australia. Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Graphium/Ophiostoma sp., and Aureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud were grown on agar supplemented with a variety of carbon sources, and mycelial growth rates were measured to determine which carbohydrates can be used by these fungi.


Keywords: STAIN FUNGI; CELL WALL CARBOHYDRATES; ALTERNARIA ALTERNATA; GRAPHIUM/OPHIOSTOMA SP.; AUREOBASIDIUM PULLULANS

Conference: 98-06-14/19 Maastricht, The Low Countries


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