Effects of carbon concentration and carbon to nitrogen ratio on the growth and sporulation of several biocontrol fungi

Mycol Res. 2007 Jan;111(Pt 1):87-92. doi: 10.1016/j.mycres.2006.07.019. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Abstract

Effects of carbon concentration and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio on six biocontrol fungal strains are reported in this paper. All fungal strains had extensive growth on the media supplemented with 6-12 gl(-1) carbon and C:N ratios from 10:1 to 80:1, and differed in nutrient requirements for sporulation. Except for the two strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus, all selected fungi attained the highest spore yields at a C:N ratio of 160:1 when the carbon concentration was 12 gl(-1) for Metarhizium anisopliae SQZ-1-21, 6 gl(-1) for M. anisopliae RS-4-1 and Trichoderma viride TV-1, and 8 gl(-1) for Lecanicillium lecanii CA-1-G. The optimal conditions for P. lilacinus sporulation were 8 gl(-1) carbon with a C:N ratio of 10:1 for M-14 and 12 gl(-1) carbon with a C:N ratio of 20:1 for IPC-P, respectively. The results indicated that the influence of carbon concentration and C:N ratio on fungal growth and sporulation is strain dependent; therefore, consideration for the complexity of nutrient requirements is essential for improving yields of fungal biocontrol agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / metabolism*
  • Culture Media
  • Metarhizium / growth & development
  • Metarhizium / physiology
  • Mitosporic Fungi / classification
  • Mitosporic Fungi / growth & development*
  • Mitosporic Fungi / physiology
  • Mycology / methods
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Paecilomyces / growth & development
  • Paecilomyces / physiology
  • Pest Control, Biological*
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development
  • Spores, Fungal / physiology
  • Trichoderma / growth & development
  • Trichoderma / physiology

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen