ABSTRACT
This chapter provides mycologists with the current knowledge on the role of manganese in both fungal metabolism and differentiation. Manganese as an essential micronutrient is provided in defined media in quantities of a few mg per liter or less. The bioavailability of manganese may also be reduced in rich, nonmineral growth media by complexation with ligands. Reliable determination of the residual contamination in growth media purported to be “manganese-free” is available by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass-spectrometry. ICP analysis of complex and defined media has been helpful in studies on the specific manganese requirement for patulin production with Penicillium urticae and indicated ferric chloride as a trace metal component that contributes a significant additional amount of manganese. Evidence for manganese as an important regulator of morphogenesis and metabolism in fungi has been presented, yet compared with bacterial systems.
