Effect of mercury on the growth of wood-rotting basidiomycetes Pleurotus ostreatus, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Serpula lacrymans

Mercury inhibits the growth of six wood-rotting basidiomycetes in different ways. Growth rates on glucose-corn steep medium (0.1 mmol/L Hg) decreased to 6% of the control in Pleurotus ostreatus, 16% in Serpula lacrymans, 22% in Ganodema applanatum, 36% in Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, 67% in Daedalea quercina and 76% in Stereum hirsutum. The inhibition was higher in mineral than in complex medium. In Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Hg caused changes in mycelial morphology and induced fruit body formation.