Effect of Carbon Sources on the Growth of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi

The ectomycorrhizal fungi show higher tolerance to high soil temperatures, various soil and ischolar_main borne pathogens and heavy metal toxicity. Hence an attempt has been made to investigate the growth characteristics of different ectomycorrhizal fungi on different carbon sources. The effect of different carbon sources viz., lactose, maltose, mannitol, and sucrose on the growth of Scleroderma citrinum, Suillus brevipes on day 30 and 45 were carried out. Scleroderma citrinum showed maximum growth on sucrose and lactose whereas Suillus brevipes showed maximum growth in lactose and mannitol in all the day intervals (30^th and 45^th days). On day 30 and 45 change in pH in the culture filtrate of Scleroderma citrinum and Suillus brevipes were also determined. The study revealed about the suitable carbon source for the mass cultivation of the selected ectomycorrhizal fungi.