FLUORESCENCE STUDY ON WHOLE ANTARCTIC FUNGAL SPORES UNDER ENHANCED UVIRRADIATION

The optical fluorescence properties of whole Antarctic fungal spores h ave been investigated in order to evaluate the effects of artificial e nhanced UV irradiation. The spores suspension show three main emission bands with maxima around 345, 430, and 510 nm, undergoing to substant ial changes after irradiations at lambda>280 (UV-B+UV-A+ visible) and lambda>265 (UV-C+UV-B+UV-A+ visible). The optical spectroscopic analys is, conducted also on total sporal extracts, indicates the involvement of the electron-proton translocating molecules in the respiratory cha in and of the carotenoid pigments in these changes. Moreover it seems that the UV irradiation is responsible for the accumulation of age pig ments in the irradiated spores. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.