L.F.K.Souza and I.P. Barbosa-Tessmann
Published August 21, 2024
Genet. Mol. Res. 23 (2): gmr19300
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr19300

About the Authors
L.F.K.Souza and I.P. Barbosa-Tessmann

Corresponding author
I.P. Barbosa-Tessmann
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ABSTRACT

Lyophilization is the leading storage technique for sporulating fungi. The genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium encompass sporulating species, many reported as hydrolase producers. Hydrolases have noteworthy commercial value; amylases account for 30% of all sales of hydrolases due to their use in industrial starch processing. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the surviving ability of filamentous fungal isolates that had remained lyophilized approximately 30 years and to assess their amylases production. The 57 fungal isolates were collected in Southern Brazil as contaminants in plants or petri plates containing primarily a starch-rich culture medium. A total of 34 fungal isolates were recovered, which belonged to the genera Aspergillus (9), Penicillium (8), Talaromyces (2), Fusarium (11), Rhinocladiella (1), Cladosporium (1), and Trichoderma (2). These isolates were identified at the species level using DNA barcoding. In the amylase production survey, isolates of the Aspergillus genus were the best producers, followed by isolates of the Penicillium and Fusarium genera. Some of the amylase producer species are well known, but some produce enzymes yet to be purified and characterized, such as Aspergillus clavatus, Penicillium crustosum, Talaromyces funiculosus, and Fusarium oxysporum. In conclusion, we demonstrated the survival capability of several fungal species and the usefulness of fungal amylase production screening.

Key words: Freeze-dried fungi survival; Amylase production; Aspergillus; Penicillium; Fusarium