The Effect of Metals on Growth, Reproduction and Attachment of Zoosporic True Fungi
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Sydney eScholarship The effect of metals on growth, reproduction and attachment of zoosporic true fungi By Linda Henderson School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The University of Sydney 28 February 2018 Declaration The work described in this thesis is exclusively my own investigation and has not previously been submitted for the award of a degree at this or any other institution. Linda Henderson February 2018 i Authorship attribution statement Chapter 1 of this thesis, excluding Section 1.1, is published as; Henderson, L, Lilje, E. Robinson, K, Gleason FH, Lilje O, 2017. ‘Effects of toxic metals on chytrids, fungal-like organisms and higher fungi’ In: The fungal community: its organisation and role in the ecosystem 4th Ed. J. Dighton and F. White (eds.) CRC Press. The various contributions to this chapter are published within the Contributions section (p. 448) of Henderson et al. 2017. Only those sections of the chapter which I have written (30.1; 30.2.1; 30.3; 30.4; 30.7 in Henderson et al. 2017) have been included in this thesis. Chapter 2 of this thesis is published as; Henderson, L., Ly, M., Robinson, K., Gleason, F., Lilje, O. 2018. Maximum temperature for growth and reproduction is similar in two soil isolates of Gaertneriomyces semiglobifer (Spizellomycetales, Chytridiomycetes) from different soil environments in north eastern New South Wales, Australia. Nova Hedwigia: Journal of Cryptogamic Science 106: 485-497. I designed the study, extracted the data and wrote the draft of the manuscript. Chapter 3 of this thesis is published as Henderson L, Pilgaard B, Gleason FH, Lilje O, 2015. Copper (II) lead (II), and zinc (II) reduce growth and zoospore release in four zoosporic true fungi from soils of NSW, Australia. Fungal Biology 119: 648–55. I co-designed the study, extracted the data and wrote the drafts of the manuscript. Chapter 4 of this thesis has been submitted to the journal Nova Hedwigia for publication as; Henderson, L, Marano, AV, Truszewski E, Gleason FH and Lilje, O, 2018. Copper (ll), Lead (ll) and Zinc (ll) reduce the rate of attachment in three zoosporic true fungi from soils of NSW, Australia. I designed the study, extracted the data and wrote the drafts of the manuscript. ii In addition to the statements above, in cases where I am not the corresponding author of a published item, permission to include the published item has been granted by the corresponding author. Linda Henderson 20th February 2018 As supervisor for the candidature upon which this thesis is based, I can confirm that the authorship attribution statements above are correct. Dr Osu Lilje 20th February 2018 iii Acknowledgements Thanks to both my supervisors, to whom I owe a great deal. Dr Osu Lilje for teaching me essential laboratory techniques, also for her consistent encouragement and support throughout my research. Dr Frank H Gleason has inspiring my passion for research in the field of zoosporic fungi and for his constant encouragement and advice. I would like to thank all the members of the Lilje microbiology lab and the Dr Peter McGee fungal lab for help and support when I needed it most. Especially, thanks to Dr Katie Robinson and Dr Mai-An Ly for help with molecular techniques. Thanks to Bo Pilgaard for help in designing the growth experimental protocol. Dr Agostina Marano and Dr José Ivanildo de Souza provided invaluable advice on chytrid attachment protocol. The Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility node (Sydney Microscopy & Microanalysis) at the University of Sydney is gratefully acknowledged for training and providing access to microscopy facilities. Most of all, I would like to acknowledge Gavin, Ellen, Lauren and James, for their continuous love and support, without which this work would not have been possible. Gratias tibi ago, Domine. iv Table of contents Declaration....................................................................................................................................... i Authorship attribution statement ....................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... iv Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: General introduction ..................................................................................................... 2 1.1 The lifecycle of zoosporic true fungi (chytrids) and their role in soil ................................ 2 1.2 Effects of toxic metals on chytrids, fungal-like organisms and higher fungi .................... 6 1.2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 6 1.2.2 Fungal Communities in metal-polluted and metal-rich soils .................................. 7 1.2.3 Mechanisms of fungal resistance and tolerance to metals ................................. 12 1.2.4 Physiological responses of fungi to toxic metal stress ........................................ 13 1.2.4.1 Toxicity .................................................................................................. 13 1.2.4.2 Sporulation and germination .................................................................. 15 1.2.4.3 Enzyme and metabolite activity .............................................................. 17 1.2.4.4 Non-enzymatic responses ...................................................................... 18 1.2.5 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................. 20 Chapter 2: A comparison of temperature effects on the same isolate (Gaertneriomyces semiglobifer) from different locations in NSW .................................................. 22 2.1 Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 24 2.3 Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 26 2.3.1 Isolate collection and maintenance .................................................................... 26 v 2.3.2 Preparation of inoculum .................................................................................... 26 2.3.3 Identification of isolate ....................................................................................... 27 2.3.4 Temperature effects on colony growth size (growth on solid PYG) .................... 28 2.3.5 Temperature effects on biomass over time (growth yield in liquid PYG) ............. 28 2.3.6 Temperature effects on the number of zoospores released ............................... 29 2.3.7 Maximum temperature for growth recovery ........................................................ 29 2.3.8 Statistical Method ............................................................................................... 29 2.4 Results ....................................................................................................................... 30 2.4.1 Identification of fungal isolate ............................................................................. 30 2.4.2 Temperature effects on colony size (growth on solid media) .............................. 30 2.4.3 Temperature effects on biomass over time (growth yield in liquid PYG) ............. 30 2.4.4 Temperature effects on the number of zoospores released ............................... 31 2.4.5 Maximum temperature for growth recovery ........................................................ 31 2.5 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 34 Chapter 3: The effect of three metals on growth and reproduction of four isolates of zoosporic fungi .......................................................................................................................... 38 3.1 Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 40 3.3 Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 42 3.3.1 Selection and maintenance of isolates ............................................................... 42 3.3.2 Preparation of inoculum .................................................................................... 43 3.3.3 Growth in liquid media........................................................................................ 43 3.3.4 Zoospore release ............................................................................................... 43 vi 3.3.5 Survival .............................................................................................................. 44 3.3.6 Statistical Analysis ............................................................................................. 44 3.4 Results .......................................................................................................................