Harvesting of Chlorella sorokiniana by co-culture with the filamentous fungus Isaria fumosorosea: A potential sustainable feedstock for hydrothermal gasification

Despite recent advances in down-stream processing, production of microalgae remains substantially limited because of economical reasons. Harvesting and dewatering are the most energy-intensive processing steps in their production and contribute 20-30% of total operational cost. Bio-flocculation of microalgae by co-cultivation with filamentous fungi relies on the development of large structures that facilitate cost effective harvesting. A yet unknown filamentous fungus was isolated as a contaminant from a microalgal culture and identified as Isaria fumosorosea. Blastospores production was optimized in minimal medium and the development of pellets, possibly lichens, was followed when co-cultured with Chlorella sorokiniana under strict autotrophic conditions. Stable pellets (1-2mm) formed rapidly at pH 7-8, clearing the medium of free algal cells. Biomass was harvested with large inexpensive filters, generating wet slurry suitable for hydrothermal gasification. Nutrient rich brine from the aqueous phase of hydrothermal gasification supported growth of the fungus and may increase the process sustainability.

The Possible Role of Hydroxylation in the Detoxification of Atrazine in Mature Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides Nash) Grown in Hydroponics

The resistance mechanism of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) to atrazine was investigated to evaluate its potential for phytoremediation of environment contaminated with the herbicide. Plants known to metabolise atrazine rely on hydroxylation mediated by benzoxazinones, conjugation catalyzed by glutathione-S-transferases and dealkylation probably mediated by cytochromes P450. All three possibilities were explored in mature vetiver grown in hydroponics during this research project. Here we report on the chemical role of benzoxazinones in the transformation of atrazine.

Fresh vetiver roots and leaves were cut to extract and study their content in benzoxazinones known to hydroxylate atrazine, such as 2,4-dihydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)- one (DIBOA), 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA) and their mono- and di-glucosylated forms. Identification of benzoxazinones was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and comparison of retention factors (Rf) and UV spectra with standards: although some products exhibited the same Rf as standards, UV spectra were different. Furthermore, in vitro hydroxylation of atrazine could not be detected in the presence of vetiver extracts. Finally, vetiver organs exposed to [14C]-atrazine did not produce any significant amount of hydroxylated products, such as hydroxyatrazine (HATR), hydroxydeethylatrazine (HDEA), and hydroxy-deisopropylatrazine (HDIA). Altogether, these metabolic features suggest that hydroxylation was not a major metabolic pathway of atrazine in vetiver.

Is phytoremediation a sustainable and reliable approach to clean-up contaminated water and soil in Alpine areas?

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE

Phytoremediation does exploit natural plant physiological processes and can be used to decontaminate agricultural soils, industrial sites, brownfields, sediments and water containing inorganic and organic pollutants or to improve food chain safety by phytostabilisation of toxic elements. It is a low-cost and environment friendly technology targetting removal, degradation or immobilisation of contaminants. The aim of the present review is to highlight some recent advances in phytoremediation in the Alpine context.

MAIN FEATURES

Case studies are presented where phytoremediation has been or can be successfully applied in Alpine areas to: (1) clean-up industrial wastewater containing sulphonated aromatic xenobiotics released by dye and textile industries; (2) remediate agricultural soils polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons; (3) improve food chain safety in soils contaminated with toxic trace elements (As, Co, Cr and Pb); and (4) treat soils impacted by modern agricultural activities with a special emphasis on phosphate fertilisation.

CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES

Worlwide, including in Alpine areas, the controlled use of appropriate plants is destined to play a major role for remediation and restoration of polluted and degraded ecosystems, monitoring and assessment of environmental quality, prevention of landscape degradation and immobilisation of trace elements. Phytotechnologies do already offer promising approaches towards environmental remediation, human health, food safety and sustainable development for the 21st century in Alpine areas and elsewhere all over the world.

The role of cytochromes P450 and peroxidases in the detoxification of sulphonated anthraquinones by rhubarb and common sorrel plants cultivated under hydroponic conditions

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE

Sulphonated anthraquinones are precursors of many synthetic dyes and pigments, recalcitrant to biodegradation and thus not eliminated by classical wastewater treatments. In the development of a phytotreatment to remove sulphonated aromatic compounds from dye and textile industrial effluents, it has been shown that rhubarb (Rheum rabarbarum) and common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) are the most efficient plants. Both species, producing natural anthraquinones, not only accumulate, but also transform these xenobiotic chemicals. Even if the precise biochemical mechanisms involved in the detoxification of sulphonated anthraquinones are not yet understood, they probably have cross talks with secondary metabolism, redox processes and plant energy metabolism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible roles of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and peroxidases in the detoxification of several sulphonated anthraquinones.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both plant species were cultivated in a greenhouse under hydroponic conditions, with or without sulphonated anthraquinones. Plants were harvested at different times and either microsomal or cytosolic fractions were prepared. The monooxygenase activity of cytochromes P450 toward several sulphonated anthraquinones was tested using a new method based on the fluorimetric detection of oxygen consumed during cytochromes P450-catalysed reactions. The activity of cytosolic peroxidases was measured by spectrophotometry, using guaiacol as a substrate.

RESULTS

A significant activity of cytochromes P450 was detected in rhubarb leaves, while no (rhizome) or low (petioles and roots) activity was found in other parts of the plants. An induction of this enzyme was observed at the beginning of the exposition to sulphonated anthraquinones. The results also indicated that cytochromes P450 were able to accept as substrate the five sulphonated anthraquinones, with a higher activity toward AQ-2,6-SS (0.706 nkat/mg protein) and AQ-2-S (0.720 nkat/mg protein). An activity of the cytochromes P450 was also found in the leaves of common sorrel (1.212 nkat/mg protein (AQ-2,6-SS)), but no induction of the activity occurred after the exposition to the pollutant. The activity of peroxidases increased when rhubarb was cultivated in the presence of the five sulphonated anthraquinones (0.857 nkat/mg protein). Peroxidase activity was also detected in the leaves of the common sorrel (0.055 nkat/mg protein), but in this plant, no significant difference was found between plants cultivated with and without sulphonated anthraquinones.

DISCUSSION

Results indicated that the activity of cytochromes P450 and peroxidases increased in rhubarb in the presence of sulphonated anthraquinones and were involved in their detoxification mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest the existence in rhubarb and common sorrel of specific mechanisms involved in the metabolism of sulphonated anthraquinones. Further investigation should be performed to find the next steps of this detoxification pathway.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES

Besides these promising results for the phytotreatment of sulphonated anthraquinones, it will be of high interest to develop and test, at small scale, an experimental wastewater treatment system to determine its efficiency. On the other hand, these results reinforce the idea that natural biodiversity should be better studied to use the most appropriate species for the phytotreatment of a specific pollutant.

Assessment of successful experiments and limitations of phytotechnologies: contaminant uptake, detoxification and sequestration, and consequences for food safety

PURPOSE

The term "phytotechnologies" refers to the application of science and engineering to provide solutions involving plants, including phytoremediation options using plants and associated microbes to remediate environmental compartments contaminated by trace elements (TE) and organic xenobiotics (OX). An extended knowledge of the uptake, translocation, storage, and detoxification mechanisms in plants, of the interactions with microorganisms, and of the use of "omic" technologies (functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), combined with genetic analysis and plant improvement, is essential to understand the fate of contaminants in plants and food, nonfood and technical crops. The integration of physicochemical and biological understanding allows the optimization of these properties of plants, making phytotechnologies more economically and socially attractive, decreasing the level and transfer of contaminants along the food chain and augmenting the content of essential minerals in food crops. This review will disseminate experience gained between 2004 and 2009 by three working groups of COST Action 859 on the uptake, detoxification, and sequestration of pollutants by plants and consequences for food safety. Gaps between scientific approaches and lack of understanding are examined to suggest further research and to clarify the current state-of-the-art for potential end-users of such green options.

CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES

Phytotechnologies potentially offer efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for cleanup of contaminated soil and water, improvement of food safety, carbon sequestration, and development of renewable energy sources, all of which contribute to sustainable land use management. Information has been gained at more realistic exposure levels mainly on Cd, Zn, Ni, As, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and herbicides with less on other contaminants. A main goal is a better understanding, at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels, of mechanisms and their regulation related to uptake-exclusion, apoplastic barriers, xylem loading, efflux-influx of contaminants, root-to-shoot transfer, concentration and chemical speciation in xylem/phloem, storage, detoxification, and stress tolerance for plants and associated microbes exposed to contaminants (TE and OX). All remain insufficiently understood especially in the case of multiple-element and mixed-mode pollution. Research must extend from model species to plants of economic importance and include interactions between plants and microorganisms. It remains a major challenge to create, develop, and scale up phytotechnologies to market level and to successfully deploy these to ameliorate the environment and human health.

Metabolism of sulphonated anthraquinones in rhubarb, maize and celery: the role of cytochromes P450 and peroxidases

Sulphonated anthraquinones are precursors of many synthetic dyes and pigments, recalcitrant to biodegradation, and thus contaminating many industrial effluents and rivers. In the development of a phytotreatment to remove sulphonated aromatic compounds, rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum), a plant producing natural anthraquinones, as well as maize (Zea mays) and celery (Apium graveolens), plants not producing anthraquinones, were tested for their ability to metabolise these xenobiotics. Plants were cultivated under hydroponic conditions, with or without sulphonated anthraquinones, and were harvested at different times. Either microsomal or cytosolic fractions were prepared. The monooxygenase activity of cytochromes P450 towards several sulphonated anthraquinones was tested using a new method based on the fluorimetric detection of oxygen consumed during cytochromes P450-catalysed reactions. The activity of cytosolic peroxidases was measured by spectrophotometry, using guaiacol as a substrate. Results indicated that the activity of cytochromes P450 and peroxidases significantly increased in rhubarb plants cultivated in the presence of sulphonated anthraquinones. A higher activity of cytochromes P450 was also detected in maize and celery exposed to the pollutants. In these two plants, a peroxidase activity was also detected, but without a clear difference between the control plants and the plants exposed to the organic contaminants. This research demonstrated the existence in rhubarb, maize and celery of biochemical mechanisms involved in the metabolism and detoxification of sulphonated anthraquinones. Taken together, results confirmed that rhubarb might be the most appropriate plant for the phytotreatment of these organic pollutants.

In vitro breeding of Brassica juncea L. to enhance metal accumulation and extraction properties

In vitro breeding and somaclonal variation were used as tools to improve the potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) to extract and accumulate toxic metals. Calli from B. juncea were cultivated on a modified MS medium supplemented with 10-200 microM Cd or Pb. Afterwards, new B. juncea somaclones were regenerated from metal-tolerant callus cells. Three different phenotypes with improved tolerance of Cd, Zn and Pb were observed under hydroponic conditions: enhanced metal accumulation in both shoots and roots; limited metal translocation from roots to shoots; reduced accumulation in shoots and roots. Seven out of thirty individual variants showed a significantly higher metal extraction than the control plants. The improvement of metal shoot accumulation of the best regenerant (3 x Cd, 1.6 x Zn, 1.8 x Pb) and metal extraction (6.2 x Cd, 3.2 x Zn, 3.8 x Pb) indicated a successful breeding and selection of B. juncea, which could be used for phytoremediation purpose.

Chemical mutagenesis--a promising technique to increase metal concentration and extraction in sunflowers

Since most of the metal-hyperaccumulating wild plants only produce very low biomass and many high-yielding crops accumulate only moderate amounts of metals, the current research is mainly focused on overcoming these limitations and the optimization of metal phytoextraction. The main goal of the present study was the improvement of metal concentration and extraction properties of Helianthus annuus L by chemical mutagenesis (the non-GMO approach). Sunflowers--hybrid cultivar Salut and inbred lines-were treated with the chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). The effect of chemical mutagenesis on metal concentration in and extraction by new sunflower M1 and M2 mutants was directly assessed on a metal-contaminated field in Raft, Switzerland. Mutants of the M2 generation showed a 2-3 times higher metal shoot concentration than the control plants. The best M2 sunflower "giant mutant" 14/185/04 showed a significantly enhanced metal extraction ability: 7.5 times for Cd, 9.2 times for Zn, and 8.2 times for Pb in aboveground parts, as compared to the control plants. Theoretical calculations for the phytoextraction potential of new sunflower variants note that the best sunflower mutant can produce up to 26 t dry matter per hectare and remove 13.3 kg Zn per hectare and year at the sewage sludge contaminated site of Raft; that is a gain factor of 9 compared to Zn extraction by sunflower controls. Furthermore, the use of sunflower oil and biomass for technical purposes (lubricants, biodiesel, biogas) should produce an additional value and improve the economical balance of phytoextraction.

Metabolism of lactose by Clostridium thermolacticum growing in continuous culture

The objective of the present study was to characterize the metabolism of Clostridium thermolacticum, a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, growing continuously on lactose (10 g l(-1)) and to determine the enzymes involved in the pathways leading to the formation of the fermentation products. Biomass and metabolites concentration were measured at steady-state for different dilution rates, from 0.013 to 0.19 h(-1). Acetate, ethanol, hydrogen and carbon dioxide were produced at all dilution rates, whereas lactate was detected only for dilution rates below 0.06 h(-1). The presence of several key enzymes involved in lactose metabolism, including beta-galactosidase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, acetate kinase, ethanol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, was demonstrated. Finally, the intracellular level of NADH, NAD+, ATP and ADP was also measured for different dilution rates. The production of ethanol and lactate appeared to be linked with the re-oxidation of NADH produced during glycolysis, whereas hydrogen produced should come from reduced ferredoxin generated during pyruvate decarboxylation. To produce more hydrogen or more acetate from lactose, it thus appears that an efficient H2 removal system should be used, based on a physical (membrane) or a biological approach, respectively, by cultivating C. thermolacticum with efficient H2 scavenging and acetate producing microorganisms.

Acetate production from lactose by Clostridium thermolacticum and hydrogen-scavenging microorganisms in continuous culture—Effect of hydrogen partial pressure

The effect of the addition of hydrogen-consuming microorganisms on the metabolism of Clostridium thermolacticum was studied. By growing this bacterium in continuous culture at 58 degrees C, on 29 mmol lactose l(-1) (10 gl(-1)) in the feed, with the H2-consuming microorganisms Methanothermobacter thermoautotrophicus and Moorella thermoautotrophica, the volumetric productivity of acetate was increased up to 3.9 mmol l(-1)h(-1) at a dilution rate of 0.058 h(-1). This was about three times higher than the maximal acetate volumetric productivity quantified when C. thermolacticum was cultivated alone. In the consortium, C. thermolacticum was the only species able to metabolize lactose; it produced not only acetate, but also hydrogen, carbon dioxide and lactate. The other species of the consortium were growing on these by-products. Meth. thermoautotrophicus played an important role as a very efficient hydrogen scavenger and decreased the hydrogen partial pressure drastically: hydrogen was converted to methane. Moor. thermoautotrophica converted lactate as well as hydrogen and carbon dioxide into acetate. As a consequence, lactose was efficiently consumed and the only organic product in the liquid phase was acetate.

Screening of sunflower cultivars for metal phytoextraction in a contaminated field prior to mutagenesis

Sunflower can be used for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. Its high biomass production makes this plant species interestingfor phytoextraction and using sunflower oil for a technical purpose may improve the economic balance of phytoremediation. The aim of the present field study was to screen 15 commercial cultivars of Helianthus annuus L. grown on metal-contaminated soil, to find out the variety with the highest metal extraction, which can be further improved by mutation or in vitro breeding procedures. Two different fertilizers (ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate) were also used to enhance the bioavailability of metals in soil Highly significant differences were observed within tested varieties for metal accumulation and extraction efficiency. Furthermore, ammonium nitrate increased cadmium extraction, whereas ammonium sulphate enhanced zinc and lead uptake in most tested cultivars. In this field-based sunflower screening, we found enhanced cumulative Cd, Zn, and Pb extraction efficiency by a factor 4.4 for Salut cultivar. We therefore emphasize that prior to any classical breeding or genetic engineering enhancing metal uptake potential, a careful screening of various genotypes should be done to select the cultivar with the naturally highest metal uptake and to start the genetic improvement with the best available plant material.

Sulphonated aromatic pollutants. Limits of microbial degradability and potential of phytoremediation

Many synthetic sulphonated aromatic compounds are used as starting material to produce dyes and pigments, or are released as by-products in the effluents of the textile and dye industry. A large number of these chemicals are poorly biodegradable and cannot be eliminated by classical wastewater treatment plants. To limit the impact of these pollutants on the environment, new processes, based on the use of higher plants (constructed wetlands or hydroponic systems), are under development. Detergents and surfactants are essential for both industrial and domestic applications, the most important family being the alkylbenzene sulphonates. Originally, the alkyl side chains were branched and thus recalcitrant to biodegradation. Therefore, they have been replaced by linear alkylbenzene sulphonates. Although more acceptable, present formulations still have adverse environmental and toxic effects. In this context, phytoremediation appears to be a promising approach to remove these compounds from contaminated soils and waters.

Acetic acid production from lactose by an anaerobic thermophilic coculture immobilized in a fibrous-bed bioreactor

An anaerobic thermophilic coculture consisting of a heterofermentative bacterium (Clostridium thermolacticum) and a homoacetogen (Moorella thermoautotrophica) was developed for acetic acid production from lactose and milk permeate. The fermentation kinetics with free cells in conventional fermentors and immobilized cells in a recycle batch fibrous-bed bioreactor were studied. The optimal conditions for the cocultured fermentation were found to be 58 degrees C and pH 6.4. In the free-cell fermentation, C. thermolacticum converted lactose to acetate, ethanol, lactate, H(2) and CO(2), and the homoacetogen then converted lactate, H(2), and CO(2) to acetate. The overall acetate yield from lactose ranged from 0.46 to 0.65 g/g lactose fermented, depending on the fermentation conditions. In contrast, no ethanol was produced in the immobilized-cell fermentation, and the overall acetate yield from lactose increased to 0.8-0.96 g/g lactose fermented. The fibrous-bed bioreactor also gave a higher final acetate concentration (up to 25. 5 g/L) and reactor productivity (0.18-0.54 g/L/h) as compared to those from the free-cell fermentation (final acetate concentration, 15 g/L; productivity, 0.06-0.08 g/L/h). The superior performance of the fibrous-bed bioreactor was attributed to the high cell density (20 g/L) immobilized in the fibrous-bed and adaptation of C. thermolacticum cells to tolerate a higher acetate concentration. The effects of yeast extract and trypticase as nutrient supplements on the fermentation were also studied. For the free-cell fermentation, nutrient supplementation was necessary for the bacteria to grow in milk permeate. For the immobilized-cell fermentation, plain milk permeate gave a high acetate yield (0.96 g/g), although the reactor productivity was lower than those with nutrient supplementation. Balanced growth and fermentation activities between the two bacteria in the coculture are important to the quantitative conversion of lactose to acetic acid. Lactate and hydrogen produced by C. thermolacticum must be timely converted to acetic acid by the homoacetogen to avoid inhibition by these metabolites.

Anaerobic thermophilic fermentation for acetic acid production from milk permeate

Fermentation of milk permeate to produce acetic acid under anaerobic thermophilic conditions (approximately 60 degrees C) was studied. Although none of the known thermophilic acetogenic bacteria can ferment lactose, it has been found that one strain can use galactose and two strains can use lactate. Moorella thermoautotrophica DSM 7417 and M. thermoacetica DSM 2955 were able to convert lactate to acetate at thermophilic temperatures with a yield of approximately 0.93 g g(-1). Among the strains screened for their abilities to produce acetate and lactate from lactose, Clostridium thermolacticum DSM 2910 was found precisely to produce large amounts of lactate and acetate. However, it also produced significant amounts of ethanol, CO2 and H2. The lactate yield was affected by cell growth. During the exponential phase, acetate, ethanol, CO2 and H2 were the main products of fermentation with an equimolar acetate/ethanol ratio, whereas during the stationary phase, only lactic acid was produced with a yield of 4 mol per mol lactose, thus reaching the maximal theoretical value. When this bacterium was co-cultured with M. thermoautotrophica, lactose was first converted mainly to lactic acid, then to acetic acid, with a zero residual lactic acid concentration and an overall yield of acetate around 80%. Under such conditions, only 13% of the fermented lactose was converted to ethanol by C. thermolacticum.

Regulation of malate oxidation in plant mitochondria. Response to rotenone and exogenous NAD+

Exogenous NAD+ stimulated the rotenone-resistant oxidation of all the NAD+-linked tricarboxylic acid-cycle substrates in mitochondria from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers. The stimulation was not removed by the addition of EGTA, which is known to inhibit the oxidation of exogenous NADH. It is therefore concluded that added NAD+ gains access to the matrix space and stimulates oxidation by the rotenone-resistant NADH dehydrogenase located on the matrix surface of the inner membrane. Added NAD+ stimulated the activity of malic enzyme and displaced the equilibrium of malate dehydrogenase; both observations are consistent with entry of NAD+ into the matrix space. Analysis of products of malate oxidation showed that rotenone-resistant oxygen uptake only occurred when the concentration of oxaloacetate was low and that of NADH was high. Thus it is proposed that the concentration of NADH regulates the activity of the two internal NADH dehydrogenases. Evidence is presented to suggest that the rotenone-resistant NADH dehydrogenase is engaged under conditions of high phosphorylation potential, which restricts electron flux through the rotenone-sensitive dehydrogenase (coupled to ATP synthesis).

Binding and screening by cations and the effect on exogenous NAD(P)H oxidation in Neurospora crassa mitochondria

1. The uncoupled oxidation of exogenous NADH by mitochondria from Neurospora crassa has a pH optimum at 7.0. In the presence of EDTA (1 mM) the optimum is at pH 6.5; maximal inhibition (65%) occurs at pH 7.2. This is comparable to the results with higher plant mitochondria. 2. The corresponding pH optima for NADPH oxidation are 7.75 (control), 7.0 (+ EDTA) and 8.0 (effect of EDTA), respectively. NADPH oxidation is completely inhibited by EDTA at pH 8.0. These pH optima are all about 1 higher than observed in mitochondria from higher plants. 3. The inhibition of NADH oxidation by EDTA is shown to be due to the removal of Mg2+ bound to the mitochondrial membranes. 4. It is shown that 9-aminoacridine can be used to monitor the surface potential of the membranes of Neurospora mitochondria. 5. Cations stimulate NADH oxidation by Neurospora mitochondria in a manner consistent with the theory of the diffuse layer. Quantitatively, the results suggest that Neurospora mitochondria contain fewer charges per mass of protein than Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) mitochondria but more than mitochondria from Arum maculatum spadices. 6. A good correlation is found between the effect of La3+ on the fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine in the presence of mitochondria and on the oxidation of NADH by the mitochondria. La3+ has different effects on mitochondria from Neurospora, Jerusalem artichoke tubers and Arum spadices. THe results indicate that the fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine can be used to monitor binding sites on biological membranes.

Properties of mitochondria as a function of the growth stages of Neurospora crassa

The oxidative and phosphorylative properties of mitochondria isolated from Neurospora crassa were investigated as a function of growth stage. The rates of oxidation of exogenous NADH and NADPH varied independently of each other, thus ruling out the existence of only one unspecific dehydrogenase. Two different pathways were involved in the oxidation of NAD-linked substrates, as indicated by changes in the rate of oxygen uptake, the sensitivity to rotenone, and the efficiency of phosphorylation. One pathway was sensitive to rotenone and involved three energy-coupling sites, whereas the other was resistant to rotenone and bypassed complex I. Our results indicated that the activity of complex I of the respiratory chain increased markedly in the late exponential phase of growth, remained high in the stationary phase, and then decreased when conidiae were formed. In contrast, the activity of the rotenone-resistant bypass was maximal in the early exponential phase. With malate (plus glutamate) as a substrate, the sensitivity to rotenone and the ADP/O ratios were always lower than those observed with other NAD-linked substrates, suggesting a possible cooperation between malate dehydrogenase and the rotenone-resistant pathway. The rate of oxygen uptake measured in the presence of rotenone was significantly increased by the addition of exogenous NAD+, suggesting that added NAD+ could interact with the rotenone-resistant bypass.