Oral Presentation Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Copper (ll) Lead (ll) and Zinc (ll) reduce the growth, zoospore production and attachment rate to organic substrates of three species of zoosporic fungi  from soils of NSW (#165)

Linda Henderson 1 , Agostina V Marano 2 , Frank H Gleason 1 , Osu Lilje 1 , Elayna Truszewskia 1
  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Micologia,, Av. Miguel Estéfano, Instituto de Botânica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Zoosporic true fungi (chytrids) are common and widely distributed in soils as saprotrophs and parasites. They attach to, and grow on many substrates of plant and animal origin, such as pollen, keratin and chitin. Three saprotrophic isolates of zoosporic fungi from the soils of NSW are examined here: Rhizophlyctis rosea (A13) from Sydney, Chytriomyces hyalinus (A14) from the Central coast and Gaertneriomyces semiglobifer (Mar-CC2) from Narrabri, for their ability to reproduce (produce zoospores), grow (increase in biomass) and adhere to cellulose and chitin in the presence of soluble Copper (II), Lead (II) and Zinc (II). All isolates declined significantly in growth at 60 ppm (0.94 mmol m-3) Cu, three declined significantly at 60 ppm (0.92 mmol m-3) Zn and two declined significantly at 100 ppm (0.48 mmol m-3) Pb. All isolates declined in zoospore production at 60 ppm Cu, three at 60 ppm Zn and three at 100 ppm Pb. Two isolates declined significantly in attachment rate at 60 ppm Cu, two at 60 ppm Zn and two at 100 ppm Pb. Rhizoids of one isolate significantly increased in number and length when incubated with 20, 30 and 60 ppm Pb. If similar effects are caused by these metals in soils, Cu, Pb and Zn contamination of NSW soils is likely to reduce the growth, reproduction and attachment of zoosporic true fungi; thereby reducing the rate of mineralisation of soil organic matter.