Immobilization of monocentric and polycentric types of anaerobic chytrid fungi in Ca-alginate

A procedure for the immobilization of rhizomycelia of two strains of anaero bic fungi, namely Piromyces sp. KSX1 and Orpinomyces sp. 478P1 using Ca-alg inate beads has been developed. Zoospores were found to be suitable propagu les for the immobilization of the monocentric strain KSX1 giving rise to co lonization in 100% of beads. For polycentric strain 478P1, which produced v ery few zoospores, partially homogenized rhizomycelia proved a suitable ino culum for the beads. The distribution of rhizomycelial growth inside the be ads and on the surface depended on which fungal strain was immobilized. Str ain 478P1 grew as a mycelial network inside the beads whereas strain KSX1 g rew in microcolonies throughout the bead and on the surface, and was unable to evenly colonize the entire Ca-alginate matrix. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Inc. All rights reserved.