Journal article
Effect of chitosan on physiological, morphological, and ultrastructural characteristics of wood-degrading fungi
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Vol.62(2), pp.116-124
2008
Abstract
An investigation was undertaken to understand the mechanism(s) by which chitosan exerts its antifungal effects against the wood-degrading fungi Sphaeropsis sapinea and Trichoderma harzianum. Exposure to increasing concentrations of chitosan caused an increase in the amount of hydrogen peroxide accumulation in cultures of S. sapinea, which was accompanied by a decrease in superoxide formation. The same effect was not observed in T. harzianum. Potassium ion leakage was an early event for both test fungi, leakage being more pronounced for S. sapinea than T. harzianum for the first 5 min, particularly at higher concentrations of chitosan treatment. Fluorescence microscopy provided evidence that the effect of chitosan on fungal hyphae was mediated through alterations in the plasma membrane properties. Chitosan also severely affected fungal morphology. Increasing concentrations of chitosan induced excessive branching, vacuolation, and a reduction in hyphal diameter. Transmission electron microscopy, which showed more severe ultrastructural changes in S. sapinea hyphae from chitosan treatment as compared to T. harzianum, provided valuable complementary information. The data suggest that the plasma membrane may be the primary target of chitosan action, and that the two fungi differ in the extent to which they are affected.
Details
- Title
- Effect of chitosan on physiological, morphological, and ultrastructural characteristics of wood-degrading fungi
- Authors
- Tripti Singh (Corresponding Author) - Ensis Wood ProcessingDamiano Vesentini (Author) - Ensis Wood ProcessingAdya P. Singh (Author) - Ensis Wood ProcessingGeoffrey Daniel (Author) - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Publication details
- International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Vol.62(2), pp.116-124
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2008
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ibiod.2007.09.006
- ISSN
- 1879-0208
- Organisation Unit
- National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99979536502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
11 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
- Environmental Sciences