Fungi Inhabiting the Coastal Zone of Lake Magadi
S. A. BONDARENKO1,2, M. L. GEORGIEVA1,3, E. N. BILANENKO1
1Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Leninskie Gory, 1-12
2Federal State Institution В«Federal Research Centre ”Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the RAS», 119071, Moscow, Leninsky ave., 33-2
3Gause Institute of New Antibiotics, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution, 119021, Moscow, Bol’shaya Pirogovskaya str., 11-1
Keywords: экстремофилы, алкалофильные грибы, алкалотолерантные грибы, термотолерантные грибы, Sodiomyces, содовые озера, оз. Магади, extremophiles, alkaliphilic fungi, alkalitolerant fungi, thermotolerant fungi, Sodiomyces, soda lakes, Lake Magadi
Abstract
We present data on the diversity and ecophysiology of fungi from one of the most alkaline natural habitats on Earth - soda Lake Magadi, a place where pH values can exceed 11-12. It has been shown to harbor abundant prokaryotic organisms that form complex communities along with algae and few other eukaryotes. In the current study, we isolated and characterized 22 filamentous fungal species from Magadi Lake coasts using systematic approach, which involved selective recovery, morphological and phylogenetic analyses, growth experiments estimating pH and temperature preferences, NaCl dependence. We demonstrated that fungi with different types of adaptation to alkaline conditions were present in soda soils. Alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant fungi belong to different families of Ascomycetes , predominantly to Plectosphaerellaceae, as well as Onygenaceae, Trihocomaceae, and Pleosporaceae. Sodiomyces tronii and S. magadii are represented as new obligate alkalophilic species within the previously monotypic genus Sodiomyces (Plectosphaerellaceae). According to the results of growth experiments obligatory alkalophilic isolates exhibit therm- and halotolerant properties. The problems of adaptation to the external pH, possible substrate preferences and association of alkalophilic fungi with other organisms are discussed.
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