Influence of clay minerals on the morphology of fungal pellets

Influence of clay minerals on the morphology of fungal pellets - Mycological Research, 106(1), p.107-117, 2002 .

The objective of this study was to assess the in¯uence of clay minerals on the morphology of mycelial pellets produced under submerged conditions as a prelude to the development of biomineral sorbents for toxic metals. The macro- and microscopic morphology of fungal pellets of melanin-containing microfungi Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum and Humicola grisea grown in liquid clay-containing medium was studied using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the inclusion of clay minerals (bentonite, palygorskite and kaolinite)in the liquid medium in¯uenced size, shape and structure of the mycelial pellets produced. In general, a reduction of pellet size, an increase in the length of surface hyphae of the pellets (except for H. grisea), and a reduction in exopolymer production were observed with increasing clay mineral concentrations up to 5