Growth and Metabolism of Fungi in an Atmosphere of Nitrogen

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Abstract
SUMMARY Strains of 13 species of fungi isolated in relatively large numbers from sewage sludges, polluted waters, organically enriched soils and similar habitats were incubated under 100% prepurified nitrogen gas in liquid culture with the reductant sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate. Incubation was carried out in 25-ml conical flasks in Case “anaero” jars. Growth and removal of carbon from the medium were measured at weekly intervals by oven dry weight determinations on cell crops collected on membrane filters, and with a Beckman carbon analyzer. Except for Geotrichum candidum, Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani, all strains used demonstrated a definite requirement for vitamins under the anaerobic or microaerophilic conditions of the test. Greatest amount of growth activity was demonstrated by Geotrichum candidum, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and Mucor hiemalis. The fungi most sensitive to a 100% nitrogen gas atmosphere were Phoma herbarum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Candida parapsilosis. Intermediate species included: Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Aureobasidium pullulans, Phialophora jeanselmei, Penicillium oxalicum and P. brevi-compactum (used in combination), and Trichoderma viride, in descending order. It was shown that strains of those fungi tested are able to metabolize organic substances and produce cell tissue under the conditions of the experiment and that therefore they may be carrying out similar activities in microaerophilic or even anaerobic conditions in sewage treatment systems and similar habitats.