THE pH FACTOR IN THE METABOLISM OF FUSARIUM MONILIFORME SHELDON ON SUCROSE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A study has been made of the effects of varying the pH value of the culture media on sucrose inversion and absorption, on respiration, and on growth of Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon. The study was carried out on 1-week-old fungal mats that were then subjected to experimentation for 48 hours. Sucrose inversion was almost unaffected by pH values higher than 5.4 but was inhibited at pH 4.0. Sugar uptake was influenced more by lowering than by raising pH beyond 5.4. Carbon dioxide output per unit dry weight of mycelial mat was lowest at the pH optimum for growth, as measured by mat dry weight. At the same optimum pH there was also the highest rate of sucrose inversion and uptake. It seemed, therefore, that the effect of pH on growth was the additive effects on the different enzymatic processes operating in the metabolism of the fungus. It is also suggested that the external pH of the medium might act by the invasion of hydrogen or hydroxyl ions into the mycelial cells, thus changing the internal pH.