Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Growth and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Sclerotium rolfsii

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARY: Carbon dioxide at a concentration of 1 to 2% (v/v) in air enhanced the growth rate and inhibited sclerotium formation in the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. A CO2 concentration of 10% inhibited growth. Similar growth patterns were observed when the fungus was grown on a medium supplemented with the fungicide carboxin, which inhibits succinate dehydrogenase. A high CO2 concentration (1 to 10%) or growth on carboxin-supplemented medium caused a decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity and significant increases in isocitrate lyase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate synthase and malate dehydrogenase activities. Mycelium of S. rolfsii grown at a high CO2 concentration contained less glyoxylate, lipids and glycogen than mycelium grown in air. It is suggested that sclerotium formation in S. rolfsii requires a balanced supply of carbohydrate intermediates and energy.