Utilisation of plant cell-wall polysaccharides and organic phosphorus substrates by isolates of Aspergillus and Penicillium isolated from soil

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The ability of seventy isolates (comprising 43 species) of Aspergillus and Penicillium, from soil and compost, to grow on sources of carbon and phosphate from plant remains was examined. Only two isolates from compost actively degraded crystalline cellulose, though most others grew on carboxymethyl cellulose. Most isolates produced biomass on cellobiose, and all on glucose, pectin and xylan. All fungi grew on phytic acid and most on DNA. If these data indicate utilisation of carbon and organic phosphorus in nature, then isolates of Trichocomaceae from soil have limited access to cellulose and considerably greater reliance on pectin and hemicellulose. The fungi may also gain their phosphorus from organic sources. The variation within species may indicate the existence of ecotypes.