The paper is focused on the dominant Aspergillus niger Tiegh. strain isolated from three different locations in Slovakia polluted by heavy metals. The stress factors (ions of Hg2+ and Cu2+) of some physiological reactions of fungus isolates in “in vitro” conditions (mycelium growth, biomass formation, cytoplasmic protein content in mycelium, as well as morphology and development of conidiophores) were observed. To compare physiological reactions of these different Aspergillus niger strains during “in vitro” cultivation showed, that Aspergillus niger strains isolated from locations with heavy metals (Krompachy and Rudňany) showed reactions which tolerated lowerconcentrations of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in medium (mycelium growth), they contained cytoplasmic proteins with a higher molecular weight (29, 34 and 40 kD), and showed irregular growth and ripening of spores in the heads of conidiophores. After one year of “in vitro” cultivation, all the Aspergillus niger isolates ( from polluted and non-polluted sites in Slovakia), showed the same physiological reactions to Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions. All fungus cultures showed sensitivity to ion concentration with an inhibitory effect on growth and development.
Vizárová G., Bacigálová K., Tamás L. (2003): Physiological reactions of Aspergillus niger isolates from different heavy metal polluted sites in Slovakia. – Czech Mycology 54(3-4): 261–272.
