Nutritional physiology of pathogenic species of thermophilic mucor.

Some aspects of the nutritional physiology of zoopathogenic Mucor pusillus Lindt and Mucor miehei Cooney & Emerson were studied at 37 degrees C. Only asexual spores (sporangiospores) were produced on all the media used. A pH range of 5.0-6.0 was found to be best for the growth and sporulation of both species. The fungi were able to utilize various sources of carbon and nitrogen tested except L-sorbose and DL-tryptophan on which no growth was recorded. Of the carbon sources, the best results were obtained with dextrin and starch while of the nitrogen sources, casein hydrolysate was most readily utilized. Both species gave measurable growth with sporulation on soluble carboxymethyl cellulose. A glucose and DL-glutamine concentration range 15.0-20.0 gl-1 and 5.0-7.5 gl-1 respectively was optimal for growth and sporulation of these fungi. A C/N ratio of 15.0: 5.0 gl-1 was optimal for sporulation and 20.07: 7.5 gl-1 for mycelial growth of both species.