Conidial germination of marine-derived fungi under simulated deep-sea conditions in the presence of inducers

Conidial Germination of Marine-derived Fungi under Simulated Deep-sea Conditions in the Presence of Inducers

Akhila Krishnaswamy^{1, 2}, Samir Ravikant Damare^{1, *}

Affiliations
¹Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India
²Department of Microbiology, Goa University, Goa 403206, India

*Corresponding author, email: [email protected]

Abstract
The abilities of conidia of four deep-sea fungi, Aspergillus flavus NIOCC20, A. sydowii CH2, A. terreus A4636 and Penicillium sp. A4623 and one terrestrial fungus, A. terreus MTCC479 to germinate under simulated deep-sea conditions were investigated by exposing the conidia to low temperature (4 °C) and elevated hydrostatic pressures (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 MPa). The conidial germination was evaluated in presence of chemical inducers, including Thiamine, Sodium pyruvate, Hydrochloric acid, Sulphuric acid and Sucrose, in a basal medium of 1/5th strength of malt extract broth and subjected to heat treatment at 70 °C for 60 min, and incubated for 30 days under simulated deep-sea conditions. The conidia of Aspergillus flavus, A. sydowii and Penicillium sp. germinated and developed into mycelia under almost all the treatments with and without heat inducement. However, the number of germinated conidia of A. terreus A4636 and A. terreus MTCC479 was lower than the other three fungal species. This is the first study demonstrating in vitro germination of conidia of deep-sea fungi at low temperature with elevated hydrostatic pressures. Further studies are warranted to obtain insights into in situ conditions that are favourable for conidial germination and fungal activity in deep-sea niches.

Citation
Krishnaswamy A, Damare SR (2019) Conidial germination of marine-derived fungi under simulated deep-sea conditions in the presence of inducers. MycoAsia 2019/01. https://doi.org/10.59265/mycoasia.2019-01

Submission History
Received: 08.05.2019
Accepted: 15.11.2019
Published: 16.11.2019

Editorial Team
Handling Editor: Dr. Belle Damodara Shenoy

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