Hydroxamate siderophore synthesis by Phialocephala fortinii, a typical dark septate fungal root endophyte

The siderophore production of various isolates of Phialocephala fortinii was assessed quantitatively as well as qualitatively in batch assays under pure culture conditions at different pH values and iron(III) concentrations. We found a distinct effect of both of these parameters on siderophore synthesis and as well as on fungal growth. In comparative analyses of two of the isolates, maximum siderophore production was found at a pH in the range of pH 4.0 to 4.5 while, under the experimental conditions employed, the optimal concentration of ferric iron was determined to be between 20-40 mug iron (III) l(-1) (0.36-0.72 muM, respectively). HPLC analysis of the culture filtrate of most of the isolates of P. fortinii revealed the excretion of ferricrocin as main hydroxamate siderophore, followed by ferrirubin and ferrichrome C. The pattern of release of these three substances proved to be dependent on pH and iron(III) concentration of the culture medium, and to be specific for each isolate under investigation.