Paecilomyces Carneus Research Articles

Bioremediation Performance of Two Telluric Saprotrophic Fungi, Penicillium Brasilianum and Fusarium Solani, in Aged Dioxin-contaminated Soil Microcosms

ABSTRACT In this study, 28 strains of filamentous fungi were isolated from soil that were historically contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs; northern France). These fungal isolates were selected for their ability to use hexadecane as the sole carbon source and for hydrophobic molecule behavior. Six strains produced significant dry biomass (> 25 mg) on hexadecane: Paecilomyces carneus, Penicillium brasilianum, Absidia glauca, Lecanicillium lecanii, Mortierella minutissima, and Bionectria ochroleuca. In a second experiment, P. brasilianum and F. solani were tested for their ability to dissipate 17 PCDD/F congeners in non-sterile contaminated soil microcosms using olive oil as an unconventional carbon source. After two months of incubation, P. brasilianum significantly reduced the soils’ toxicity equivalency (TEQ) by 35%. The F. solani treatment led to a significant reduction (approximately 25%) in PCDD/F concentrations. Statistical agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that using cardboard as a growing medium and bulking agent is more efficient than using poplar wood. As fungal dioxin dissipation can involve the production of reactive oxygen species or fungal P450-like enzymes, the potential role of these mechanisms deserve further study. However, the proposed approach could allow the development of cost-effective and eco-friendly (low technology) techniques to maintain the integrity of soils.

Investigation of the Inhibitory Effect of Biocidal Products (Based on Guanidine) on the Activity of Building Materials Destructors

The article presents the classification and specificity of effective methods of protection from bio-damage. Settling on the surface of building materials and structures, microorganisms, along with the destructive effect, worsen the environmental situation in buildings and structures.Studying the works of Russian and foreign authors in the field of biotechnology made it possible to generalize the basic methods of combating biological damage to KSM (carbamide resin), which are divided into physical, biological and chemical.One of the most effective and long — lasting ways to protect building materials and structures from damage by microorganisms is the use of biocidal compounds. The latter are introduced into the composition of the material during its manufacture or by the method of impregnation. Fungicides also inhibit the development of microorganisms by reducing the intake of nutrients from the environment to the cells of the fungus.In world practice, promising biocidal compounds are considered to be preparations based on guanidine, which are effectively used in medicine, the textile industry, in chemical technologies for the synthesis of surfactants, etc. In this article, the inhibitory effect of the preparation “Teflex” (base - polyethylene guanidine) on the activity of exoxidoreductases of fungi destructors of construction composites (Aspergillus fumigatus, Stemphylium verruculosum, Trichoderma koningii and Paecilomyces carneu)s at the maximum of enzymatic activity was evaluated. Biocides were introduced into the fungi culture medium on day 3 (in vivo).It was found that “Teflex” fungicides inhibit phenolosidotoses, cotoloses and peroxidoses: phenol oxidases of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus - 1.4 times, Paecilomyces carneus - 1.6 times, Trichoderma koningii - 2.0 times, Stemphylium verruculosum - 4.2 times (Figure 7.1 A); catalases of the fungus Paecilomyces carneus - 1.8 times, Trichoderma koningii - 2.2 times, Stemphylium verruculosum - 9.3 times, Aspergillus fumigatus - 23.9 times (Figure 7.1 b); peroxidases of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus - 3.4 times, Trichoderma koningii-4.6 times, Paecilomyces carneus-9.9 times, Stemphylium verruculosum - 43.7 times. The fungicidal effect of the preparation “Teflex” may be associated with its destabilizing effect on the native structure of enzymes. It leads to a violation of the tertiary structure of the enzyme, causes protein denaturation and disorganization of the cell membrane.

Crude Enzymatic Extract fromTrametes maximaandPaecilomyces carneusMixed Culture Entrapped on Alginate for Phenanthrene Removal in Water

The aim of this study was to evaluate application of a crude enzymatic extract from the mixed culture of Trametes maxima (T. maxima) and Paecilomyces carneus (P. carneus) in removal of phenanthrene (PHE) from water. Since PHE belong to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), it has been used as a model compound for bioremediation treatments. PAHs are highly stable molecules, and are resistant to conventional wastewater treatment. Production of crude extract from a mixed culture of T. maxima and P. carneus does not require special conditions yet the use of 20 g/L of glycerol as carbon source enhances laccase (Lcc) and manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) activities. Application of crude extracts becomes feasible because it does not require further purification. The crude enzymes entrapped in alginate beads in a fixed-bed packed column reached 94.3% ± 0.7% of PHE removal after 13 h of continuous treatment under nonsterile conditions, while the alginate beads without enzymes reached only 45.3% ± 23% of PHE removal. The difference between the removal of alginate beads with and without enzymes was the oxidative activity on the surface of the alginate beads, which was observed in the increase in the C═O group and in the X-ray spectroscopy analyses of the C 1s and O 1s regions. Beads without enzymes had less C═O groups. Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and dimethyl sulfoxide also influence enzymatic activity to carry out a level of PHE removal similar to a photocatalytic treatment.

Atrazine degradation by fungal co-culture enzyme extracts under different soil conditions

ABSTRACTThis investigation was undertaken to determine the atrazine degradation by fungal enzyme extracts (FEEs) in a clay-loam soil microcosm contaminated at field application rate (5 μg g−1) and to study the influence of different soil microcosm conditions, including the effect of soil sterilization, water holding capacity, soil pH and type of FEEs used in atrazine degradation through a 24 factorial experimental design. The Trametes maxima–Paecilomyces carneus co-culture extract contained more laccase activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content (laccase = 18956.0 U mg protein−1, H2O2 = 6.2 mg L−1) than the T. maxima monoculture extract (laccase = 12866.7 U mg protein−1, H2O2 = 4.0 mg L−1). Both extracts were able to degrade atrazine at 100%; however, the T. maxima monoculture extract (0.32 h) achieved a lower half-degradation time than its co-culture with P. carneus (1.2 h). The FEE type (p = 0.03) and soil pH (p = 0.01) significantly affected atrazine degradation. The best degradation rate was achieved by the T. maxima monoculture extract in an acid soil (pH = 4.86). This study demonstrated that both the monoculture extracts of the native strain T. maxima and its co-culture with P. carneus can efficiently and quickly degrade atrazine in clay-loam soils.

Phosphate solubilization by fungi with nematicidal potential

We evaluated the nematicidal potential and phosphate solubilization ability of the fungal species Geomyces pannorum and Paecilomyces carneus, which are associated with the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis. In a broth medium containing calcium phosphate, the two fungi solubilized between 67%-96% of the insoluble phosphorus that was present in the medium, and in a broth medium containing iron phosphate, the phosphorus that was solubilized by the two fungi ranged between 2%-13%. In a greenhouse experiment, G. pannorum and P. carneus were applied to soil that was naturally infested with G. rostochiensis and planted with Avena sativa. The fungi increased the available phosphorus in the soil by more than 30%, and Paecilomyces carneus also reduced the nematode population by 71%. This study is the first to report on the ability of G. pannorum and P. carneus to increase the available phosphorus in the soil, suggesting that these fungal species may have potential uses in agricultural soils with insoluble phosphorus. Moreover, this study provides a new alternative that contributes to the sustainable management of crops with bio-agents that have dual activity; they increase the available phosphorus in the soil and mitigate plant parasitic nematodes.

Enhancement of ligninolytic enzyme activities in a Trametes maxima–Paecilomyces carneus co-culture: Key factors revealed after screening using a Plackett–Burman experimental design

article i nfo Background: In the industrial biotechnology, ligninolytic enzymes are produced by single fungal strains. Experimental evidence suggests that co-culture of ligninolytic fungi and filamentous microfungi results in an increase laccase activity. In this topic, only the ascomycete Trichoderma spp. has been studied broadly. However, fungal ligninolytic-filamentous microfungi biodiversity interaction innature isabundant and poorlystudied. The enhancement of laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities of Trametes maxima as a function of time inoculation of Paecilomyces carneus and under several culture conditions using Plackett-Burman experimental design (PBED) were investigated. Results: The highest increases of laccase (12,382.5 U/mg protein) and MnP (564.1 U/mg protein) activities were seen in co-cultures I3 and I5, respectively, both at 10 d after inoculation. This level of activity was significantly different from the enzyme activity in non-inoculated T. maxima (4881.0 U/mg protein and 291.8 U/mg protein for laccase and MnP, respectively). PBED results showed that laccase was increased (P b 0.05) by high levels of glucose, (NH4)2SO4 and MnSO4 and low levels of KH2PO4 ,F eSO4 and inoculum (P b 0.05). In addition, MnP activity was increased (P b 0.05) by high yeast extract, MgSO4, CaCl2 and MnSO4 concentrations. Conclusions: Interaction between indigenous fungi: T. maxima-P. carneus improves laccase and MnP activities. The inoculation time of P. carneus on T. maxima plays an important role in the laccase and MnP enhancement. The nutritional requirements for enzyme improvement in a co-culture system are different from those required for a monoculture system.

An Isaria fumosorosea SCAR marker for evaluation of soil, insect, and airborne samples

Molecular detection markers are needed for ecological studies of entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, a sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker of Isaria fumosorosea was used to detect the fungus in soil, insects, and airborne samples. These were artificially added with different fungal conidial concentrations. Specificity and sensitivity were tested with semi-nested PCR using oligonucleotides E-AA/M-CTA124 F and E-AA/M-CTA124 R for the first amplification and E-AA/M-CTA124 F and E-AA/M-CTA103 R for the second amplification. Specificity assays showed a specific band of 103 bp for DNA samples from 10 I. fumosorosea strains used. Negative results were observed for DNA samples from other species of Isaria, including I. amoene-rosea, I. farinosa, and Paecilomyces carneus as well as with other entomopathogens such as Metarhizium acridum, M. anisopliae, M. majus, M. flavoviride Type E, and Lecanicillium lecanii. Sensitivity assays showed that the specific SCAR marker detected 104 conidia from I. fumosorosea EH-511/3 that were artificially mixed with soil, from 1 to 104 conidia artificially mixed with Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and from 10 to 105 conidia in Melinex tape for airborne samples. The marker was also able to detect conidia in airborne samples from cotton wicks in a mini wind tunnel. These SCAR markers for I. fumosorosea had excellent specificity and sensitivity and are relevant tools for ecological studies of this fungus.

Pathogenicity of some hypocrealean fungi to adult Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

The pathogenicity of 19 hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi from seven different genera in adult Aedes aegypti was tested. All fungi proved to be pathogenic, and Isaria fumosorosea, Lecanicillium muscarium, Lecanicillium psalliotae, Metarhizium anisopliae, Metarhizium lepidiotae, Metarhizium majus, Metarhizium frigidum, Paecilomyces carneus, and Paecilomyces lilacinus caused total mortality within 15 days of exposure of mosquitoes to the fungal culture. All fungi developed on dead individuals. The high susceptibility of adults to most tested strains underlines the interest of entomopathogenic fungi-especially those of the genera Metarhizium, Isaria, Paecilomyces and Lecanicillium--for biological control of A. aegypti.

Selection of micromycetes capable of developing on technical lubricants

Institute of Chemistry, A. Gostauto 9, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail: lugauskas@chi.lt This article briefly reviews literature data on industrially used lubricants. Their chemical composition, sources of origin, fields of application and function, as well as wastes formed after their usage and the importance for the environment are described. Various microorganisms, among numerous micromycetes capable of destroying lubricants and using them for nourishment, continuously find their way into a lubricant with dust or by other channels. In order to identify micromycetes capable of destroying technical lubricants, eight species of micromycete strains were isolated from dust accumulated in herb and spice hothouses. This was due to the fact that the accumulation of this dust is determined by the diversity and composition of the substances detected in herb waste; part of those components are constituents of lubricants. The following widely spread micromycetes were studied: Alternaria alternata, Chrysosporium merdarium, Gilmoniella humicola, Trichoderma harzianum, Fusarium proliferatum, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium pullulans, Geomyces pannorum as well as the following widely used components of lubricants: formaldehyde releasing triazine biocide (FRTB), overbased calcium aulphonate in mineral oil (OCSMO), oxidized wax with Ca in Mineral solvent (OWNCMS), low erucic rapeseed oil (LERO), mineral oil with heavy naphthenic vacuum distillates (MOHNVD), chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC53). It has been determined that Chrysosporium merdarium, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium proliferatum, Geomyces pannorum are the most active lubricant destructors. Paecilomyces carneus, Botrytis cinerea fungal strains occupy a particular place in lubricant destruction on the list of fungi. FRTB showed the most pronounced effect on fungal growth and development under the conditions of our experiments, while the effect of LERO was the weakest. The selected micromycetes as well as the methods of stimulation of their action and technological regulation can become a tool enabling to diminish environmental pollution with wastes of technical lubricants, thus improving the ecological conditions of the environment.

Ovicidal Activity of Entomopathogenic Hyphomycetes on <I>Aedes aegypti</I> (Diptera: Culicidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

The ovicidal activity of 21 hyphomycete fungi species against Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) was tested. Fungi with ovicidal activity developed on high numbers of eggs (> or =70%) during 25 d of exposure. A clear ovicidal activity with low values of hatch (1.3-40%) was observed after 25 d of incubation with Isaria farinosa (Holm: Fries) Fries, Paecilomyces carneus (Duché & Heim) Brown & Smith, Paecilomyces marquandii (Massee) Hughes, Isaria fumosorosea (Wize), Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, Penicillium sp., Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, and Evlachovaea kintrischica Borisov & Tarasov. More than 63% of eggs hatched after 25-d exposures to 11 other fungi species deemed as ineffective. These are the first results to show the effects of entomopathogenic fungi against eggs of Ae. aegypti, and they suggest their potential as control agents of this vector.

Secretion of keratinolytic enzymes and keratinolysis byScopulariopsis brevicaulisandTrichophyton mentagrophytes: regression analysis

A survey on keratinophilic fungi from poultry-farm soils at Namakkal and from feather dumping soils at Chennai, India, revealed the existence of 34 species of fungi. Most of the fungi exhibited variable efficiency in producing extracellular keratinase when grown in plates with chicken feathers as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum, Paecilomyces carneus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Trichoderma viride, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were efficient candidates to degrade the feathers. However, when cultivating the strains in submerged conditions in a medium containing chicken feathers as the sole nutrients source, Aspergillus glaucus, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium citrinum also proved to be potent. Among all species, S. brevicaulis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes produced higher amounts of keratinase in both methods. Conditions for keratinase production were optimized by statistical design and surface plots. The highest keratinase activity was estimated by S. brevicaulis (3.2 KU/mL) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.7 KU/mL) in the culture medium with chicken feathers and shows (79% and 72.2% of degrading ability, respectively).

Identification and taxonomy of some entomopathogenic Paecilomyces spp. (Ascomycota) isolates using rDNA-ITS Sequences

A phylogenetic analysis of the 5.8S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) sequences from some entomogenous Paecilomyces species supports the polyphyly of the genus and showed the existence of cryptic species. In the Eurotiales, anamorphs Paecilomyces variotii and Paecilomyces leycettanus were related to the teleomorphs Talaromyces and Thermoascus. In the Hypocreales, three major ITS subgroups were found, one of which included Paecilomyces viridis, Paecilomyces penicillatus, Paecilomyces carneus and isolates identified as Paecilomyces lilacinus and Paecilomyces marquandii. However, the majority of the P. lilacinus and P. marquandii isolates formed a distinct and distantly related subgroup, while the other major subgroup contained Paecilomyces farinosus, Paecilomyces amoeneroseus, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Paecilomyces tenuipes.

Paecilopeptin, a new cathepsin S inhibitor produced by Paecilomyces carneus.

Paecilopeptin, a novel cathepsin S inhibitor, was produced and isolated from the culture supernatant of the fungal strain, Paecilomyces carneus. A spectroscopic analysis revealed the planar structure of paecilopeptin to be acetyl-Leu-Val-CHO. The stereochemistry of the constituent amino acids was analysed by chiral HPLC after oxidation and 6N HCl hydrolysis of paecilopeptin. The total synthesis of paecilopeptin was completed in six steps. Paecilopeptin inhibited human cathepsin S with an IC50 value of 2.1 nM in vitro.

Response of microbial processes and fungal community structure to vegetation management in mixedwood forest soils

Previous research to determine the impacts of harvesting and site preparation on microbial processes and decomposer fungi in mixedwood forests indicated that effects were minimal. As an extension to this research, the present study was conducted to evaluate if microbial processes and decomposer fungi were sensitive to manual or chemical vegetation management in addition to harvesting and site preparation. The impact of vegetation management on microbial processes and decomposer fungi was examined in organic and mineral soil from harvested sites in northwestern Ontario. Three vegetation management treatments were applied to three clear-cut and prepared sites 2 years prior to the initiation of the study. Four treatments were established within each site: (i) harvested (control), (ii) glyphosate herbicide (Vision®), (iii) triclopyr herbicide (Release®), and (iv) manually operated brushsaws. The objective of the study was to determine the response of basal respiration, microbial biomass C, metabolic quotients (qCO2), microbial carbon : soil organic carbon ratio (Cmic/Corg), nitrogen mineralization, and fungal community structure to vegetation management by chemical and manual means. Relative to the harvested control, vegetation management had no significant impact on fungal community structure as evidenced through rank abundance curves and indices of fungal community richness, diversity, evenness, or dominance. Although the abundances of the majority of fungal species were not impacted by vegetation management, herbicide and brushsaw use decreased the isolation frequencies of Mortierella vinacea (Dixon-Stewart) and Paecilomyces carneus (Duché and Heim) Brown and Smith, respectively. Occurrence of Paecilomyces carneus was significantly greater in the organic soil than in the mineral soil of the harvested control, but this difference was not detectable in the blocks that had undergone vegetation management. Two years after vegetation management was imposed there were no detectable effects on basal respiration, microbial biomass C, qCO2, Cmic/Corg, or nitrogen mineralization in either the organic or mineral soil layers as compared with measurements made in the harvested control plots.Key words: harvesting, herbicide, brushsaw, fungal community, microbial processes.

Action of serine carboxypeptidase from paecilomyces carneus on oligopeptides containing carboxy-terminally amidated peptides

Paecilomyces carneus carboxypeptidase sequentially liberated amino acids from the carboxy-terminus of neurotensin, angiotensin I, bradykinin, and delta sleep-inducing peptide, indicating that the sequential hydrolysis of peptides was limited by the occurrence of intermediates with the structure of -Gly-X (X = L-amino acid), -Pro-X, -X-Gly, and -X-Pro. The enzyme had carboxyamidase and/or amidase activities for the carboxy-terminally amidated peptides. The enzyme essentially acted as a carboxyamidase for the long carboxy-terminally amidated peptides; an amidase became dominant for the substrates in the presence of bulky amino acids such as Arg, Met, Leu, and Phe in the penultimate (P1) and P2 positions, corresponding with the S1 and S2 sites of the enzyme, and the P3 position of carboxy-terminally amidated peptides played a significant role in the action as a carboxyamidase or a amidase.

Antigenic relations between pathogenic Paecilomyces lilacinus and P. variotii and other hyalohyphomycotic agents

Objective: The antigenic relations between Paecilomyces variotii and Paecilomyces lilacinus were studied by comparison of their exoantigens. Methods: Forty-one isolates of hyalohyphomycosis-causing fungi including P. lilacinus (n = 15) and P. variotii (n = 12), one isolate each of Paecilomyces inflatus, Paecilomyces marquandii, and Paecilomyces carneus, Fusarium species (n = 3), Neosartorya pseudofischeri (n = 5), and Penicillium species (n = 3), were studied using the exo-antigen test. Ten-day-old extracts derived from Sabouraud's dextrose agar slants were concentrated (25x), and reacted against rabbit anti- P. lilacinus and anti- P. variotii sera in the presence of partially purified homologous antigens (20x) prepared from 5-week-old shaken cultures. Extracts of isolates of P. lilacinus and P. variotii produced one to three lines of identity against the reference homologous antisera. No cross-reactivity or bands of non-identity were observed with other Paecilomyces isolates, N. pseudofischeri, Fusarium species, and Penicillium species isolates. Conclusion: The results of this investigation indicate that P. lilacinus and P. variotii are antigenically distinct and that they can be identified rapidly and accurately by their exoantigens. Exoantigen extracts of morphologically similar fungi and other species of Paecilomyces isolates studied did not possess antigens common to P. lilacinus and P. variotii.

Production, purification, and properties of serine carboxypeptidase from Paecilomyces carneus.

Seventeen strains of the genus Paecilomyces were examined for their ability to produce serine carboxypeptidase. Paecilomyces carneus IFO 7012 exhibited the highest potency for serine carboxypeptidase production. A maximum yield of serine carboxypeptidase was obtained by koji culture of the strain at 22 degrees C for 7 days. The serine carboxypeptidase was purified to homogeneity from an extract of the koji culture. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 47,000 by HPLC. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was determined to be 4.0, and the optimum pH was 4.0 toward benzyloxycarbonyl-L-glutamyl-L-tyrosine (Z-Glu-Tyr) and benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine (Z-Phe-Ala), respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and p-chloromercurybenzoate. Relative hydrolysis rates of N-acylpeptides and kinetic studies indicated that the enzyme preferred substrates having bulky amino acids in the penultimate position from their carboxy-termini.

Paeciloquinones A, B, C, D, E and F: new potent inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases produced by Paecilomyces carneus. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activity.

Paeciloquinones A to F as well as versiconol have been isolated as inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase from the culture broth of the fungus Paecilomyces carneus P-177. The novel anthraquinones inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor protein tyrosine kinase in the micromolar range. Two compounds, paeciloquinones A and C, are potent and selective inhibitors of the v-abl protein tyrosine kinase with an IC50 of 0.4 microM. Dependent on the fermentation conditions, partially different sets of paeciloquinones may be produced. An HPLC method allows separation of all major active components.

Paeciloquinones A, B, C, D, E and F: new potent inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase produced by Paecilomyces carneus. II. Characterization and structure determination.

Paeciloquinones A to F and versiconol have been isolated as inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases from the culture broth of the fungus Paecilomyces carneus P-177. The structures of the new anthraquinones were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The substitution pattern was established by investigation of the respective methylated derivatives.

Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi in the soils of Papua New Guinea

A study was made of soil samples collected during an expedition to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Fungi were isolated from the samples by the method of hair baiting (To-Ka-Va). Of the 33 species isolated, about half showed keratinolytic activity. Such activity is previously unreported for Mucor hiemalis f. hiemalis, Myrothecium roridum, Paecilomyces carneus, P. marquandii, Penicillium brevicompactum, Rhinocladiella mansonii and Verticillium lecanii. The species most active keratinolytically were Chrysosporium an. Arthroderma cuniculi, C. an. A. curreyi, C. indicum, Myceliophthora vellerea and Trichophyton ajelloi. The spectrum of fungi with keratinolytic activity isolated from the different sites differed considerably according to the frequency of use by man, heaviest use being correlated with greatest activity. The pH of the soil (varying from 5.8-7.5) had little influence on the type of such fungi isolated.