Utilization of Carbohydrates by Soft Rot Fungus, Chaetomium globosum KUNZE

Abstract

Utilizing ability of the soft rot fungus, Chaetomium globosum KUNZE, to various mono- and polysaccharides, most of them normally occurring in hardwoods as hemicellulose components, was investigated on fungal growth and consumption rate by shake culture. Xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, maltose and crude xylan were available to the fungus, whereas arabinose, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid were not utilized at all. Rapid growth and consumption were observed in xylose and xylan media, probably indicating the possible reference to the greater susceptibility of hardwoods to soft rot. Equality of mannose to xylose as carbon source, however, casted the propblem on the relation of mannan utilization to the greater resistance of softwoods to soft rot.