Morphogenesis and adhesion of Aureobasidium pullulans

Abstract

Two strains of the dimorphic fungus Aureobasidium pullulans were grown in liquid and on solid media varying in carbon and nitrogen content, and on leaf surfaces. Hyphae were observed in all systems but comprised a very low proportion (often below quantitative detection) of the total biomass. In liquid media, hyphae were found sparsely and only in the wash-zone on walls of the culture flasks. Yeast phase growth (blastospores) occurred in pH-buffered media that were nutrient balanced, or continuously carbon-limited (fed-batch culture), or carbon-exhausted (batch culture). Blastospores exposed to conditions with limited nitrogen but sufficient organic carbon, or to acidified media, converted to swollen cells and chlamydospores. The latter morphotypes accumulated carbon internally as lipid granules, and then externally as capsular and soluble extracellular polysaccharide. They were cohesive and also adhered more strongly to cellulose membranes overlying agar media or to leaves than did blastospores. Pullulanase treatment diminished the capsules, cohesion, and adhesion. Addition of soluble extracellular polysaccharide to blastospores enhanced their adhesion to leaves. We conclude that extracellular polysaccharide can play a role in adhesion of A. pullulans.Key words: phylloplane, leaf surface, epiphytic growth, extracellular polysaccharide, cell attachment.