glutamate decreased or had no effect on FDA and protein content measured with P. chrysosporium and P. tremellosum. It inhibited lignin degradation and substrate weight loss with both species substantially. In contrast to the other growth indices, subjectively-assessed growth of P. chrysosporium increased with glutamate addition. However,this migth be attributed to production of numerous conidia, and the dark colour of the wood substrate in this treatment. Both these factors interfere with the ability to visually assess the amount of hyphae.