Effect of carbohydrate and nitrogen on hydrogen peroxide formation by wood decay fungi in solid medium

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters 1987-12, Vol.48 (3), p.373-377
• Main Author: Highley, T.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; carbohydrates; decay fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Ganoderma applanatum; Growth, nutrition, metabolism, transports, enzymes. Molecular biology; Hydrogen peroxide; Microbiology; Mission oriented research; Mycology; nitrogen; Physiology and metabolism; Wood decay
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02627.x

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been implicated in degradation of wood by both brown‐rot and white‐rot fungi. This study found that low concentrations of nitrogem and carbohydrates (cellobiose, glucose, xylose and mannose) in an agar medium had little effect on H2O2 production by white‐rot fungi. However, low concentrations of nitrogen and carbohydrates stimulated H2O2 production by brown‐rot fungi. Use of the chromogen 2,2′‐azino‐di(3‐ethyl benzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) with horseradish peroxidase to detect H2O2 by the fungi was slightly better than detection by the chromogen o‐dianisidine with horseradish peroxidase. An auxiliary test to check the role of H2O2 in wood decay found that hydrogen peroxide‐negative isolates of the white‐rot fungi Pharnerochaete chrysosporium and Ganoderma applanatum were unable to decay sweetgum and southern pine.