ASSESSING BIOCIDE EFFECTS ON PROTOPLASTS OF WOOD DECAY FUNGI

Hyphal fragments and protoplasts of two wood-degrading fungi, Postia p lacenta and Trametes versicolor, were used to examine the effects of t wo fungicides, copper sulfate and azaconazole, on fungal health (as me asured by oxygen consumption, glucose utilization, potassium levels, c ell regeneration, and copper uptake). Although both cell systems respo nded to the presence of fungicide, there were some differences in resp onse. Protoplasts tended to absorb higher levels of copper and were le ss sensitive to copper sulfate than were mycelial fragments. In genera l, however, protoplasts provided uniform cells for evaluating the effe cts of fungicides on cell health.