Marine Funga
13
Part A | 2.1
2. Marine Fungal Diversity and Bioprospecting
Kalaiselvam Murugaiyan
Marine fungi are a large group of eukaryotic
organisms. Marine fungi, and particularly woodinhabiting fungi, have been extensively studied
since 1944. These have been termed lignicolous
fungi and constitute more than 50% of the total
450 species of obligate marine fungi described so
far. Marine fungi occur not only in water and sediment, but also as parasites on plants and animals,
as well as symbionts in marine lichens, plants, and
algae. A rich pool of fungal species is yet to be discovered and investigated over the coming years.
About 150 species have been found exclusively
on decaying mangrove wood, aerial roots, and
seedlings, and are categorized as Manglicolous
fungi; most of the species belong to the class of
Ascomycetes. Fungi in mangroves play a significant role in litter decomposition and nutrient
cycling, thereby contributing to the fertility of the
environment. Fungal biomass along with detritus contributes significantly to the food chain of
detritus-feeding organisms found in mangroves.
Aspergillus and Penicillium are the dominant fungi
involved in litter decomposition of mangroves.
Fungal endophytes are microfungi; they colonize
the internal tissues of vascular plants without producing any apparent disease symptoms and are
considered as an important component of biodiversity. The distributions of endophytic mycoflora
differ with the host and modify the host plants
at genetical, physiological, and ecological levels.
These modifications induce profound changes in
how plants respond to their environments. The
environmental and biological factors such as the
2.1 Preamble................................................ 13
2.2 Diversity of Fungi .................................... 14
2.2.1 Current Status of Marine Fungi ........ 14
2.2.2 Major Groups of Fungi .................... 14
2.3 Habitats of Fungi in the Marine Ecosystem 16
2.3.1 Marine Fungi ................................. 16
2.3.2 Fungi in Mangroves ........................ 16
2.3.3 Fungi as Endophytes ...................... 17
2.4 Habitat Characteristics and Their Effect
on Fungal Diversity ................................. 17
2.4.1 Effects of the Substratum ................ 17
2.4.2 Effects of Salinity ........................... 18
2.4.3 Effects of Temperature .................... 18
2.5 Collection, Isolation, and Identification
of Fungi ................................................. 19
2.5.1 Techniques for Sample Collection .... 19
2.5.2 Media Preparation for Isolation
of Fungi ........................................ 19
2.5.3 Isolation of Fungi........................... 20
2.5.4 Identification of Fungal Isolates ...... 20
2.5.5 Molecular Taxonomical
Identification ................................ 20
2.6 Bioprospecting of Marine Fungi ............... 22
2.7 Conclusions ............................................ 22
References..................................................... 23
availability of substrates or hosts, salinity, hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and the availability
of oxygen control the distribution of marine fungi.
The adaptation of marine fungi in an extreme environment suggests that they are promising sources
for screening natural products.
2.1 Preamble
Fungi are eukaryotic and non-vascular organisms. The
cells of fungi contain nuclei with chromosomes. A fungus is neither a plant nor an animal. The cell walls of
fungi are similar to the structure of the cell walls of
plants. The only different is in the chemical composition. The fungi’s cell wall is composed mainly of chitin,
while plant cell walls are mostly made of cellulose.
Their cytoplasmic ultrastructure is also similar to that
13
Part A | 2.1
2. Marine Fungal Diversity and Bioprospecting
Kalaiselvam Murugaiyan
Marine fungi are a large group of eukaryotic
organisms. Marine fungi, and particularly woodinhabiting fungi, have been extensively studied
since 1944. These have been termed lignicolous
fungi and constitute more than 50% of the total
450 species of obligate marine fungi described so
far. Marine fungi occur not only in water and sediment, but also as parasites on plants and animals,
as well as symbionts in marine lichens, plants, and
algae. A rich pool of fungal species is yet to be discovered and investigated over the coming years.
About 150 species have been found exclusively
on decaying mangrove wood, aerial roots, and
seedlings, and are categorized as Manglicolous
fungi; most of the species belong to the class of
Ascomycetes. Fungi in mangroves play a significant role in litter decomposition and nutrient
cycling, thereby contributing to the fertility of the
environment. Fungal biomass along with detritus contributes significantly to the food chain of
detritus-feeding organisms found in mangroves.
Aspergillus and Penicillium are the dominant fungi
involved in litter decomposition of mangroves.
Fungal endophytes are microfungi; they colonize
the internal tissues of vascular plants without producing any apparent disease symptoms and are
considered as an important component of biodiversity. The distributions of endophytic mycoflora
differ with the host and modify the host plants
at genetical, physiological, and ecological levels.
These modifications induce profound changes in
how plants respond to their environments. The
environmental and biological factors such as the
2.1 Preamble................................................ 13
2.2 Diversity of Fungi .................................... 14
2.2.1 Current Status of Marine Fungi ........ 14
2.2.2 Major Groups of Fungi .................... 14
2.3 Habitats of Fungi in the Marine Ecosystem 16
2.3.1 Marine Fungi ................................. 16
2.3.2 Fungi in Mangroves ........................ 16
2.3.3 Fungi as Endophytes ...................... 17
2.4 Habitat Characteristics and Their Effect
on Fungal Diversity ................................. 17
2.4.1 Effects of the Substratum ................ 17
2.4.2 Effects of Salinity ........................... 18
2.4.3 Effects of Temperature .................... 18
2.5 Collection, Isolation, and Identification
of Fungi ................................................. 19
2.5.1 Techniques for Sample Collection .... 19
2.5.2 Media Preparation for Isolation
of Fungi ........................................ 19
2.5.3 Isolation of Fungi........................... 20
2.5.4 Identification of Fungal Isolates ...... 20
2.5.5 Molecular Taxonomical
Identification ................................ 20
2.6 Bioprospecting of Marine Fungi ............... 22
2.7 Conclusions ............................................ 22
References..................................................... 23
availability of substrates or hosts, salinity, hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and the availability
of oxygen control the distribution of marine fungi.
The adaptation of marine fungi in an extreme environment suggests that they are promising sources
for screening natural products.
2.1 Preamble
Fungi are eukaryotic and non-vascular organisms. The
cells of fungi contain nuclei with chromosomes. A fungus is neither a plant nor an animal. The cell walls of
fungi are similar to the structure of the cell walls of
plants. The only different is in the chemical composition. The fungi’s cell wall is composed mainly of chitin,
while plant cell walls are mostly made of cellulose.
Their cytoplasmic ultrastructure is also similar to that