Production of volatiles from decomposing plant tissues and effect of these volatiles on Rhizoctonia solani in culture.
Volatiles, of which NH3 is a major component, were evolved from decomposing immature corn tissue (c:n9) and affected R. solani in culture two ways: they supplied additional nitrogen to the growth medium so that fungal mycelial growth increased; and they raised substrate pH from 5.5 to 8.2 which induced melanization of mycelium. Volatiles increased fungus growth and pigmentation within 2 weeks of amendment addition to soil. Increases were concomitant with NH3 production from corn tissue. More NH3 evolved from decomposing corn tissues of C:N9 and 17 than from those of C-N 33 and 81. More growth and pigmentation occurred in flasks through which volatiles from decomposing corn (C:N9) were passed than in flasks through which volatiles from nonamended soil or decomposing corn (C:N81) were passed. Carbon dioxide from decomposing tissues did not affect growth or pigmentation. Twice as much NH3 evolved from corn tissue (C:N9) which decomposed in saturated soil than from tissue which decomposed in soil at 50% of its water-holding capacity. Pigment production doubled under saturated conditions.
D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012232:Rhizoctonia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014867:Water; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism*
D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen