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- Title
Highly active and stable fungal ice nuclei are widespread among Fusarium species.
- Authors
Kunert, Anna T.; Pöhlker, Mira L.; Krevert, Carola S.; Wieder, Carsten; Speth, Kai R.; Hanson, Linda E.; Morris, Cindy E.; Schmale III, David G.; Pöschl, Ulrich; Fröhlich-Nowoisky, Janine
- Abstract
Some biological particles and macromolecules are particularly efficient ice nuclei (IN), triggering ice formation at temperatures close to 0 °C. The impact of biological particles on cloud glaciation and the formation of precipitation is still poorly understood and constitutes a large gap in the scientific understanding of the interactions and co-evolution of life and climate. To investigate the frequency and distribution of IN activity within the fungal genus Fusarium, more than 100 strains from 65 different Fusarium species were screened. In total, ~ 11 % of all tested species included ice nucleation-active (IN-active) strains, and ~ 16 % of all tested strains showed IN activity above -14 °C. Besides Fusarium species with known IN activity, F. armeniacum, F. begoniae, F. concentricum, and F. langsethiae were newly identified as IN-active. The cumulative number of IN per gram of mycelium for all tested Fusarium species was comparable to other biological IN like Sarocladium implicatum, Mortierella alpina, and Snomax®. Filtration experiments suggest that the single cell-free Fusarium IN is smaller than 100 kDa, and that aggregates can be formed in solution. Long-term storage and freeze-thaw cycle experiments revealed that the Fusarium IN remain active in solution for several months and after repeated freezing and thawing. Oxidation and nitration reactions, as occurring during atmospheric aging, did not affect the activity of the Fusarium IN. The high frequency of Fusarium and the wide distribution of IN activity within the genus, combined with the high stability of the IN, suggest a significant impact of fungal IN on the Earth's water cycle and climate.
- Subjects
ICE nuclei; FUSARIUM; HYDROLOGIC cycle; BIOMACROMOLECULES; ICE clouds; FREEZE-thaw cycles; GLACIATION
- Publication
Biogeosciences Discussions, 2019, p1
- ISSN
1810-6277
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5194/bg-2019-276