ISSN:
1399-3054
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Sexual reproduction of many dermatophytes is easily induced in complex media such as soil plus keratin. In Arthroderma benhamiae this process could be initiated also in synthetic agar media. A number of carbon sources (glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose, maltose, lactose, sorbose, sucrose) had about the same stimulatory effect on reproduction, while xylose was inhibitory. Organic sulphur was not crucial for the process in contrast to the nitrogen supply. The nitrogen sources could be divided into four groups; I. very stimulatory (arginine, citrulline, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, valine, glutathione); II. stimulatory (alanine, asparagine, lysine, serine); III. slightly stimulatory (aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, urea, NH4Cl, NH4-tartrate); IV. inhibitory (hydroxyproline, methionine, threonine, tryptophan). Synergistic effects were shown between some amino acids. Generally a combination between 5 g/l glucose and 300–400 mg/l nitrogen induced the largest number of cleistothecia, regardless of the nitrogen source used. The level varied between the sources, however. A C/N ratio of about 10 was optimal while a value above 20 gave no cleistothecia. The optimal temperature for the process was 30°C. Sexual reproduction occurred between pH 4.4 and 8.0 (final values). However, at a final pH above 7.2 the number of ascospores/cleistothecium was reduced.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1974.tb03698.x
