title: Growth of fungi in NaCl-MgSO4 brines.
abstract: Long-term studies have shown that common fungi of the Penicillium-Aspergillus group can be grown in a variety of brines or on moist salt crystals, simulating a range of natural terrestrial habitats such as salt flats, or special water-bodies such as the Dead Sea. In general, salt media rich in KCl are favored over other alkali halides; the media become more selective as the salt concentration rises and nutrient requirements become more complex. We here demonstrate that media which resemble the Dead Sea salt mix can support the growth of selected fungal strains, even in the absence of reduced organic nutrients other than glucose. Such media may serve as models for localized microhabitats on Mars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Pacific Biomedical Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: B Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Siegel
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D018559:Exobiology; D008011:Lichens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018535:Mars; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012492:Salts / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012492:Salts; C017082:brine; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D002122:Calcium Chloride