title: Preliminary data on growth and enzymatic abilities of soil fungus Humicolopsis cephalosporioides at different incubation temperatures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp & Endl.) Krasser, known as "lenga" is the most important timber wood species in southernmost Patagonia (Argentina). Humicolopsis cephalosporioides Cabral & Marchand is a soil fungus associated with Nothofagus pumilio forests, which has outstanding cellulolytic activity. However, there is no information about the ability of this fungus to use organic substrates other than cellulose, and its ability to produce different enzyme systems, as well as its response to temperature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the role of H. cephalosporioides in degradation processes in N. pumilio forests in detail by evaluating the in vitro ability of four isolates of this fungus to grow and produce different lytic enzyme systems, and their response to incubation temperature.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ability of the fungi to grow and produce enzyme systems was estimated by inoculating them on agar media with specific substrates, and the cultures were incubated at three temperatures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A differential behavior of each strain in levels of growth and enzyme activity was found according to the medium type and/or incubation temperature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A intra-specific variability was found in H. cephalosporioides. Likewise a possible link between the saprotrophic role of this fungus in N. pumilio forests and the degradation of organic matter under stress conditions, such as those from frosty environments, was also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: lorenaeliades@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Lorena Alejandra
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Elíades
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marta N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.affiliation: Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pancotto
authors.affiliation: Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Melisa
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rago
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mario C N
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Saparrat
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D014197:Trees / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins
keywords: Baja temperatura; Bosque de Nothofagus; Enzima extracelular; Extracellular enzyme; Hongos de suelo; Humicolopsis cephalosporioides; Low temperature; Nothofagus forest; Soil fungi; Tierra del Fuego (Argentina)