title: Assimilation of organic and inorganic nutrients by Erica root fungi from the fynbos ecosystem.
abstract: Erica dominate the fynbos ecosystem, which is characterized by acidic soils that are rich in organic matter. The ericaceae associate with ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi for survival. In this study fungal biomass accumulation in vitro was used to determine nutrient utilisation of various inorganic and organic substrates. This is an initial step towards establishment of the ecological roles of typical ERM fungi and other root fungi associated with Erica plants, with regard to host nutrition. Meliniomyces sp., Acremonium implicatum, Leohumicola sp., Cryptosporiopsis erica, Oidiodendron maius and an unidentified Helotiales fungus were selected from fungi previously isolated and identified from Erica roots. Sole nitrogen sources ammonium, nitrate, arginine and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) were tested. Meliniomyces and Leohumicola species were able to utilise BSA effectively. Phosphorus nutrition was tested using orthophosphate, sodium inositol hexaphosphate and DNA. Most isolates preferred orthophosphate. Meliniomyces sp. and A. implicatum were able to accumulate significant biomass using DNA. Carbon utilisation was tested using glucose, cellobiose, carboxymethylcellulose, pectin and tannic acid substrates. All fungal isolates produced high biomass on glucose and cellobiose. The ability to utilize organic nutrient sources in culture, illustrates their potential role of these fungi in host nutrition in the fynbos ecosystem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bizabani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. Electronic address: J.dames@ru.ac.za.
authors.forename: Joanna Felicity
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dames
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D029791:Ericaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals
keywords: Albany Centre of Endemism; Dark septate endophytes; Ecological function; Enzyme activity; Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi; Nutrient assimilation