Diversity and enzyme activity of fungal species associated with macroalgae, Agarum clathratum

Abstract

Agarum clathratum is one of brown macroalgae species. Recently, it has risen as a serious environmental issue being accumulated on coast in Korea. In order to discover fungal candidates to solve this problem, fungal diversity associated with A. clathratum in decay was investigated and their enzyme activities were confirmed

alginase, β-glucosidase and endoglucanase which participated in degrading alginate and cellulose of A. clathratum. A total 235 fungal strains were isolated from A. clathratum on 15 sites and identified to 89 species based on morphology and multigene analysis

using ITS and protein coding genes (act, benA, CaM, and tef). Acremonium, Penicillium, and Corollospora were shown up as dominant genera, especially, Acremonium fuci and Corollospora gracillis were the most dominant species. 57 species exhibited alginase and/or cellulase activity by forming clear zone from plate assay. Among them, Acremonium fuci, Alfaria terrestiris, Hypoxylon perforatum, Penicillium madriti, and Pleosporales sp. 5 showed the highest enzyme activities. With these species, further enzyme quantification was conducted and most of species were confirmed that they had better enzyme activity than Penicillium crysogenum which was known for having good enzyme activity in previous studies, especially Penicillium madiriti.