Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis of Penicillium brevicompactum treated with cobalt

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to study the morphology and elemental composition of the conidia, phialids and hyphae of Penicillium brevicompactum grown in the presence of cobalt concentrations of 0, 50, 200, 500, 800 and 1000 ppm (mg/l). Cobalt uptake was through the hyphae, phialids and the conidia with maximum uptake being by the conidia at a concentration of 1000 ppm. EDX revealed the increase in the percentage of calcium and magnesium in the hyphae, conidia and phialids, compared to corresponding controls, accompanying the increase in cobalt uptake. Alternatively a decrease in sulfur percentage was observed. This study might reflect the possibility of using SEM-EDX as a new technique in understanding the mechanism of tolerance.