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A review on deep-sea fungi: occurrence, diversity and adaptations

  • Chandralata Raghukumar , Samir R. Damare and Purnima Singh
Published/Copyright: December 1, 2010
Botanica Marina
From the journal Volume 53 Issue 6

Abstract

The few studies on deep-sea fungi in recent years (using either culturing or molecular signatures) have provided evidence on their occurrence. A majority of culture-dependent and culture-independent fungi recovered have homology to terrestrial species, indicating possible arrival in deep-sea either via wind or terrestrial runoffs. However, the presence of novel fungal sequences with <97% similarity to previously identified fungal sequences in public databases has also been reported. Several filamentous fungi and yeasts recovered from deep-sea sediments of the Central Indian Basin from ∼5000 m grew under hydrostatic pressures of 20–40 MPa and 5°C. Some of these fungi had unusual morphology during initial culturing and also when grown at 20 MPa/5°C. Direct detection of fungal hyphae in deep-sea sediments is a daunting task as they are present in low abundance. We demonstrated the occurrence of fungal hyphae in deep-sea sediments by direct staining of the sediments with Calcofluor White, a fluorescent optical brightener. This review presents data on the occurrence, diversity and adaptations of fungi to various deep-sea habitats, with special emphasis on their possible ecological role under these extreme environmental conditions.


Corresponding author

Received: 2010-4-30
Accepted: 2010-10-14
Published Online: 2010-12-01
Published in Print: 2010-12-01

©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Guest editorial
  2. 11th International Marine and Freshwater Mycology Symposium, Taichung, Taiwan R.O.C., November 2009
  3. Review
  4. A review on deep-sea fungi: occurrence, diversity and adaptations
  5. Research articles
  6. Sedecimiella taiwanensis gen. et sp. nov., a marine mangrove fungus in the Hypocreales (Hypocreomycetidae, Ascomycota)
  7. Dibenzofurans from the marine sponge-derived ascomycete Super1F1-09
  8. Antimicrobial activities of marine fungi from Malaysia
  9. Diversity and abundance of lignicolous marine fungi from the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah (Borneo Island)
  10. Fungal colonization and breakdown of sedge (Cyperus malaccensis Lam.) in an Indian mangrove
  11. Occurrence and distribution of fungi in a mangrove forest on Siargao Island, Philippines
  12. Biodiversity of marine fungi in Malaysian mangroves
  13. Endophytic fungi from mangrove plant species of Thailand: their antimicrobial and anticancer potentials
  14. Fungal communities in bunker C oil-impacted sites off southern Guimaras, Philippines: a post-spill assessment of Solar 1 oil spill
  15. Potential use of marine arenicolous ascomycetes as bioindicators of ecosystem disturbance on sandy Cancun beaches: Corollospora maritima as a candidate species
  16. Effects of Cu(II) and Zn(II) on growth and cell morphology of thraustochytrids isolated from fallen mangrove leaves in Taiwan
  17. Marine-derived fungi from Kappaphycus alvarezii and K. striatum as potential causative agents of ice-ice disease in farmed seaweeds
  18. Short communication
  19. Fungal diversity in bottom sediments of the Kara Sea
  20. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 53 (2010)
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