title: Differential sensitivity of fungi to lithium chloride in culture media.
abstract: Forty species of fungi, representing a range of ecological and taxonomic groups, were tested for their ability to grow on agar media amended with lithium chloride (LiCl) at 1.5, 3 and 6 g l(-1). Species of Trichoderma varied considerably in their sensitivity to LiCl; at one week on 6 g l(-1) LiCl medium, the growth of seven species of Trichoderma was considerably inhibited; however, by three weeks at this level, four of the species tested were able to attain > or =30% of control growth. Of the seven species tested, an isolate of T. viride was the most sensitive to LiCl in agar. Eleven other imperfect fungi also showed a range of ability to grow on agar amended with LiCl, from total inhibition to complete lack of inhibition. Six ascomycete fungi were greatly inhibited by LiCl at all levels; however, an isolate of Chaetomium globosum was highly tolerant of LiCl. Seven basidiomycete wood-decay fungi were quite sensitive to LiCl in agar, showing total to nearly total inhibition even at the lowest level; however, after three weeks, an isolate of Postia placenta was nearly uninhibited except at 6 g l(-1). Five ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete fungi were totally inhibited by all levels of LiCl; however, one ectomycorrhizal imperfect fungus (Cenococcum graniforme) was able to grow at 3 g l(-1) and was uninhibited at 1.5 g l(-1). Four zygomycete fungus isolates were nearly unaffected in their growth by all levels of LiCl.
authors.affiliation: School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA. dlrichte@mtu.edu
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Sara C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Beardslee
authors.forename: Maureen L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Habarth
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar; D018021:Lithium Chloride