The Effect of Nutrition on the Sporulation of Melanconium Fuligineum in Culture

Abstract

M. fuligineum is deficient for thiamine. Limited vegetative growth is possible in concentrations of thiamine so low that spores fail to form. Sixty-four combinations of carbon and nitrogen sources were tested for suitability as sporulation media. Maltose was the best carbon source tested, while ammonium tartrate and casein hydrolysate were the best sources of nitrogen. Lactose was poorly utilized. Growth was poor and only a trace of sporulation resulted on media containing this sugar. Rapid and abundant sporulation is correlated with rapid germination, and rapid early vegetative growth. The most favorable initial pH for sporulation was about 5.0. Sporulation occurred at pH values as low as 2.0. Sporulation was only slightly less rapid at 20° than at 28° C. Light did not appear to have any influence on sporulation.