Oxidation of manganous salts of manganese by soil fungi

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Microbiology
• Main Authors: Timonin, M. I., Illman, W. I., Hartgerink, T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1972
• Subjects: Northwest Territories; Tundra; Yukon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/m72-124; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/m72-124

The microbiological analysis of soils from Ontario, Yukon, and Northwest Territories showed the presence of manganese-oxidizing bacteria, Actinomycetes, and fungi. Bacteria and Actinomycetes were predominant in boreal and tundra soils whereas fungi were predominant in the Ontario samples. The 18 species of fungi studied were able to oxidize 10 different compounds of manganese including a chelated form as well as an organic Mn 2+ complex. Coniothyrium fuckelii, Periconia sp., P. circinata, P. macrospinosa, Phoma sp., and Sporothrix sp. oxidized all 10 Mn 2+ compounds tested. One bacterial culture isolated from Arctic soil was able to oxidize only Mn 2+ acetate and tartrate salts.The addition to Mn 2+ sulfate medium of either calcium salts of several organic acids or various carbohydrates affected the growth of fungi as well as the nature of the end product of Mn 2+ oxidation. Thus, the manganic granules produced by Cephalosporium sp. in the medium in the presence of glucose or starch were resistant to solubilization, dissolving only after 6 h in 1 N ammonium acetate (pH 7.0) containing 0.2% of hydroquinone. Granules produced by P. circinata in the presence of cellulose were insoluble in this solvent. On dissolution of the granules with 30% hydrochloric acid, the residue did not show the presence of bacteria under microscopic examination.