Biological aspects of the biopulping fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Abstract

The specific activity of four isolates of C. subvermispora media was found to be quite variable. Growth on PDA was the fastest compared to other common nutrient media. Cardinal temperatures for growth were optimum at 30°C, minimum at 15°C and maximum at 35°C. Macroscopic characteristics of mycelial mats, in relation to aerial hyphae production, were also found to differ among different media. Induction of fruiting was successful with two of the isolates when grown in petri dishes containing 1% malt extract agar. Basidiocarp production on Pinus banksiana boards was found to be very effective. Spore germination at 72% was highest with CZ-3 as was spore production. Single spore isolations and interfertility tests illustrated that C. subvermispora showed a tetrapolar incompatibility system and not a bipolar system as previously thought. The production of extracellular polyphenol oxidase in agar based media was found to be dependant on the type of media used.