Immobilization of monocentric and polycentric types of anaerobic chytrid fungi in Ca-alginate

• Published in: Enzyme and microbial technology Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 144 - 149
• Main Authors: McCabe, Bernadette K., Kuek, Clem, Gordon, Geoffrey L.R., Phillips, Michael W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 07.08.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anaerobic fungi; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Ca-alginate; calcium alginate; Cellulase production; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immobilization; Immobilization of organelles and whole cells; Immobilization techniques; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Orpinomyces; Piromyces; Immobilization; Piromyces; Anaerobic fungi; Orpinomyces; Cellulase production; Ca-alginate; Fungi; Anaerobiosis; Support; Enzyme; Cellulase; Glycosidases; Industrial application; Hydrolases; O-Glycosidases; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0141-0229; 1879-0909
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-0229(01)00367-2

A procedure for the immobilization of rhizomycelia of two strains of anaerobic fungi, namely Piromyces sp. KSX1 and Orpinomyces sp. 478P1 using Ca-alginate beads has been developed. Zoospores were found to be suitable propagules for the immobilization of the monocentric strain KSX1 giving rise to colonization in 100% of beads. For polycentric strain 478P1, which produced very few zoospores, partially homogenized rhizomycelia proved a suitable inoculum for the beads. The distribution of rhizomycelial growth inside the beads and on the surface depended on which fungal strain was immobilized. Strain 478P1 grew as a mycelial network inside the beads whereas strain KSX1 grew in microcolonies throughout the bead and on the surface, and was unable to evenly colonize the entire Ca-alginate matrix.