Identification of Fungal Communities Isolated from Himalayan Glacier Cryoconites

Gandhali M. Dhume, Masaharu Tsuji and Shiv Mohan Singh ()
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Gandhali M. Dhume: Department of Microbiology, Goa University, Taleigao 403206, India
Masaharu Tsuji: National Institute of Technology, Asahikawa College, Hokkaido 071-8142, Japan
Shiv Mohan Singh: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Vasco-da-Gama 403804, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: The current study focuses on fungi that were isolated from cryoconite holes of the Hamtah glacier in the Himalayas. Cryoconite holes have ecological and biotechnological importance. A total of seven cryoconite samples were collected from different locations and subjected to the isolation of psychotropic fungi at 1, 4, 15 and 22 °C. Isolates were identified by ITS and D1/D2 region sequences. The result showed culturable yeasts (45) and filamentous fungi (10) belonging to four ascomycetous classes (Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Saccharomycetes and Sordariomycetes) and two basidiomycetes’ classes (Microbotryomycetes and Tremellomycetes). Physiological characteristics such as the pH, temperature, salt tolerance, carbon source utilization and antibiotics sensitivity of the isolates were studied. All the isolates were grown from acidic to alkaline pH and were able to grow at 1 to 22 °C. The fungal cultures isolated were screened to produce cold active enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, lipase, protease and catalase. Cellulase activity was detected at its maximum at both 4 and 15 °C. Himalayan cryoconites fungi showed immense potential for biotechnological and industrial applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of the characterization of fungal communities present in the glacier cryoconites of the Himalayas.

Keywords: cryoconites; diversity; fungi; biopotential; Himalaya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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