A screening method for detecting iron reducing wood-rot fungi

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Biochemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Wood-rot fungi play a crucial role in nutrient cycling.
• Iron reduction by fungi is an important metabolic process.
• Accurate detection of iron-reducing fungi is essential for ecological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel plate assay for detecting wood-rot fungi based on their iron(III) reductive abilities.
• To compare the sensitivity and efficiency of the new plate assay with existing liquid medium tests.
• To evaluate the iron reductive capabilities of different wood-rot fungal species.

Main Methods:

• Development of a plate assay utilizing the Fe(II)-selective dye, ferrozine.
• Culturing of wood-rot fungi, including brown rot and white rot species.
• Quantitative assessment of iron(III) reduction using the ferrozine assay and comparison with liquid medium tests.

Main Results:

• The developed plate assay is fast, simple, and generally more sensitive than liquid medium tests.
• Brown rot fungi (Gloeophyllum trabeum, Laetiporus sulphureus) exhibited significantly higher iron reductive capabilities.
• White rot fungi (Trametes versicolor, Ganoderma australe, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora) showed lower iron reduction levels.

Conclusions:

• The ferrozine-based plate assay is a reliable and efficient tool for identifying and quantifying iron-reducing wood-rot fungi.
• Differential iron reduction capabilities were observed between brown rot and white rot fungi.
• This assay facilitates research into fungal iron metabolism and its ecological implications.