Fig 2. HapX of A. benhamiae is important for growth, conidiation and hyphal pigmentation during iron starvation.
(A) Cultivation of A. benhamiae wild type, ΔhapX mutant and hapXC reconstituted strain in AMM during iron-replete conditions (+Fe), iron limitation (-Fe), harsh iron starvation (-Fe +BPS) and in the presence of the xenosiderophore deferoxamine (-Fe + DFOM). Data represent the means and standard deviations of three biological replicates. The differences between wild type and ΔhapX mutant were statistically significant during iron starvation and in the presence of BPS and DFOM (2way ANOVA; * significant at P < 0.05, ** significant at P < 0.01, *** significant at P < 0.001). (B) Growth of the fungal strains in AMM during iron-replete conditions (+Fe) and iron starvation (-Fe) for 5 d at 30°C led to the formation of a reddish pigmented mycelium of ΔhapX mutant, particularly during iron deficiency.