Cellulolytic and lipolytic fungi isolated from soil and leaf litter samples from the Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna)

Abstract

The Brazilian savanna, known as the Cerrado, is a biome with a high degree of endemism, with the potential to house many microorganisms suitable for biotechnological exploitation, especially fungi. The Cerrado soil, which is usually acidic, is a favorable environment for the growth of fungi capable of degrading lignocellulosic materials. The aim of the present study was to isolate cellulolytic filamentous fungi native to the Cerrado. Samples of soil and leaf litter were collected in three points of Cerrado State Park, located in the South of Brazil, during the rainy season in September 2014. Samples were stored in sterile plastic bags, transported at room temperature and kept at 4 ºC for three days. Filamentous fungi were isolated by successive inoculations in PDA (maintained at 30 ºC). Cellulase activity was tested in CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) medium and lipase activity was assessed in medium containing phenol red and tween 20 (incubated at 37 °C), and in medium supplemented with Rhodamine B (kept at 30 °C). We isolated a total of 28 strains, 25 produced cellulase, detected with lugol in strains grown in CMC medium (carboxymethylcellulose). The isolates were identified morphologically (color, form of growth) and by sequencing of the 18S rRNA region, with both techniques producing congruent results. One strain of Colletotrichum boninense and one strain of Trichoderma sp., both isolated from soil samples, presented the highest cellulolytic activity. All strains exhibited lipolytic activity, with enzyme production and activity influenced by temperature. The present study revealed new strains of known filamentous fungi that can be applied in biomass degradation. These strains are suitable for optimization of culture conditions, which could lead to the economic feasibility of the process.

Growth conditions, physiological properties, and selection of optimal parameters of biodegradation of anticancer drug daunomycin in industrial effluents by Bjerkandera adusta CCBAS930

“…The lipolytic activity of Bjerkandera sp. and B. adusta isolated from soil and leaf litter, and their relationship with lignincellulose degradation, was previously reported by Karlsson et al (2001) andDe Melo et al (2018). Earlier studies on Bjerkandera adusta strain CCBAS930 (=B.…”

Saprobic conidial fungi associated with palm leaf litter in eastern Amazon, Brazil

“…These are the largest classes among the ascomycetes described until present, including taxa that can occur in several types of environments and which play an important role in litter decomposition (Hyde et al 2013, Maharachchikumbura et al 2015. Members of Sordariomycetes and Dotideomycetes can degrade lignocellulosic materials and are very abundant in leaf litter (Melo et al 2018).…”

“…Chaetosphaeriaceae was the family with the highest number of species (15), followed by Dictyosporiaceae (7) and Nectriaceae (5) ( Table I). Representants of these families are important biodegraders in the environment (Couturier et al 2016, Melo et al 2018. The genera with the highest number of species were Dictyosporium Corda (6), followed by Chloridium Link (4) and Zygosporium Mont.…”

Biogeography of Fungal Communities Associated with Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. along the Latitudinal Gradient in Europe

“…Although P. camemberti is described as a strictly aerobic fungus that only grows on the surface of the cheese [ 119 ], it appears that it can also be found in P. abies soils. In a study by de Melo et al [ 120 ] in Brazil, P. camemberti was isolated from soil samples collected in Cerrado State Park. The fungus was previously also isolated from soil samples collected in Söğütlük Forests of Edirne City, in Turkey [ 121 ], as well as in different P. sylvestris stands in Lithuania [ 74 , 122 ].…”