Influence of fusarium oxysporum age on proportions of C, N and P mineralized after chloroform fumigation in soil

Abstract

The influence of age of Fusarium oxysporum mycelia on mineralization in soil of their C, N and P contents following chloroform fumigation was determined with two soils from pasture of different productivity. The mineralization factors kc and kn could vary with mycelial age and, in prior-incubated soils, were lowest in the oldest (44-day) culture with the lowest cytoplasm and total N contents. Changes in kp with mycelial age showed no consistent trends. The use of k factors derived from physiologically young cells may lead to under-estimation of C and N in the indigenous soil biota.