CADMIUM ABSORPTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND MYCELIAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE BASIDIOMYCETE FUNGUS, SCHIZOPHYLLUM-COMMUNE

Homokaryotic colonies of the wood-decaying fungus, Schizophyllum commune were found to absorb Cd2+ when grown on synthetic medium supplemented with CdSO4. Cd2+ levels were found to be up to 23-fold higher than media concentrations in young (2-day-old) colonies. Older colonies showed Cd2+ levels nearly 10-fold higher than the medium. Media Cd2+ concentrations between 100 muM and 180 muM were found to substantially reduce radial growth and dry weight accumulation of colonies. Analysis of hyphal growth patterns on the higher Cd2+ concentrations suggested that a loss of hyphal growth orientation occurs. This was supported by observations of colonies grown on very high Cd2+ concentration (ca 360 muM) where twisting, looping and intertwining occurred in those few hyphae which grew. No concentration of Cd was found to kill all of the cells in a 3 x 3 mm inoculum; transfer to fresh media without Cd2+ resulted in resumption of growth.