This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Abel, T. H. Articles by Bärlocher, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Abel, T. H. Articles by Bärlocher, F. Agricola Articles by Abel, T. H. Articles by Bärlocher, F.

Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1984 August; 48(2): 245-251
Copyright © 1984, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effects of Cadmium on Aquatic Hyphomycetes

T. H. Abel^* and F. Bärlocher

Botanical Institute, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

ABSTRACT

Two kinds of experiments, sporulation and growth experiments, were carried out to demonstrate the effect of cadmium on aquatic hyphomycetes. Oak (Quercus petraea L.) leaves were exposed in a hard-water stream (Lüssel, Swiss Jura) and a soft-water stream (Ibach, Black Forest) for 2 months. In the laboratory, fungal sporulation on the leaves in stream water enriched with cadmium (as CdCl₂) was studied. A measurable effect was found when the cadmium concentration exceeded 0.1 ppm (0.1 mg/liter). Concentrations higher than 100 ppm inhibited conidium production completely. This toxic effect of cadmium was species dependent and much higher in soft water (water with low concentrations of calcium and magnesium) than in hard water. Growth experiments with Alatospora acuminata Ingold, Clavariopsis aquatica De Wildeman, Flagellospora curvula Ingold, Heliscus lugdunensis Saccardo and Therry, and Tetracladium marchalianum De Wildeman showed the same pattern of cadmium sensitivity as that seen in the sporulation experiments. Mycelial growth was less sensitive to cadmium than was fungal sporulation. High concentrations of competing cations (e.g., calcium and zinc) or potential ligands could reduce cadmium toxicity. Calcium content seems to be the most important factor responsible for the different sensitivity of aquatic hyphomycetes in hard and soft water.

^* Corresponding author.

Present address: Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick E0A 3C0. Canada.