Detection of Ultraviolet Absorbing Substances in Living Mycelium of Fungi

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Abstract
Light absorption by living, uninjured mycelium of Ascochyta pisi, Pleospora herbarum, and Pyronema omphalodes was studied spectro-photometrically by 2 specially-devised methods. Differences between sporulating colonies exposed to near-UV radiation and nonsporulating colonies reared in darkness were evident, particularly in P. omphalodes. Exposed colonies showed increased absorption mainly in the region 300-350 m[mu]. Substances causing this increased absorption were located in irradiated vegetative mycelium of P. omphalodes and possibly in the spores of A. pisi. Absorption of 300-350 m[mu] radiation by mycelium corresponded to 1 waveband of radiation (310 m[mu]) previously found to be very effective in inducing sporulation in A. pisi, P. herbarum, and Alternaria chrysanthemi.