Tc. Shinners et Jp. Tewari, DIVERSITY IN CRYSTAL PRODUCTION BY SOME BIRDS NEST FUNGI (NIDULARIACEAE) IN CULTURE, Canadian journal of chemistry, 75(6), 1997, pp. 850-856
Hyphae of many species of bird's nest fungi (Nidulariaceae) were exami
ned for the presence of crystals. Scanning electron microscopy reveale
d crystals typical of calcium oxalate associated with hyphae. Crystal
depositions included complete hyphal encrustation, organized druses, r
andomly arranged groups, single crystals, and relatively ''clean'' hyp
hae. The majority of crystals could be morphologically classified as s
tyloid, raphide, or bipyramidal type. Energy-dispersive X-ray microana
lyses confirmed that all crystal types were rich in calcium, and X-ray
diffraction identified both the dihydrate (weddellite) and monohydrat
e (whewellite) forms of calcium oxalate. Morphological variation of cr
ystals was species and medium specific, with generally more crystals b
eing produced on relatively calcium-rich V8 juice agar than on PDA. No
association was found between crystal types and geographic and habita
t distribution of species.