Ferricrocin - an ectomycorrhizal siderophore of Cenococcum geophilum

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum was grown in low-iron mediu m and the excreted siderophores were extracted, purified and analyzed by HP LC. The principal hydroxamate siderophore produced, was identified as ferri crocin as confirmed by analytical HPLC, FAB-mass spectrometry and H-1- and C-13-NMR spectra. Although the occurrence of ferricrocin has been shown ear lier to occur in the ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, this is the first report of ferricrocin in a true ectomycorrhizal fungus which is taxonomically relate d to the ascomycetes.