Jp. Tewari et al., PRODUCTION OF CALCIUM-OXALATE CRYSTALS BY 2 SPECIES OF CYATHUS IN CULTURE AND INFESTED PLANT DEBRIS, Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, A journal of biosciences, 52(7-8), 1997, pp. 421-425
Hyphae of Cyathus striatus and C. olla in culture and on infested plan
t debris were heavily encrusted with crystals. Scanning electron micro
scopy revealed that raphide-and styloid-shaped crystals were associate
d with the hyphae of C. olla in canola stubble and in culture. Bipyram
idal crystals were also present in culture. Distinct raphide druses de
veloped on C. striatus hyphae colonizing wood chips, but in culture mo
st crystals were bipyramidal or other shapes. Energy-dispersive X-ray
microanalyses, FT/IR spectroscopy, and C-13 NMR spectroscopy determine
d that these crystals were calcium oxalate. This is the first report o
f calcium oxalate crystal production by these fungi. This characterist
ic has implications towards decomposition of organic matter, biominera
lization, nutrient cycling, and soil genesis.