Biogeochemical processes in the continental slope of Bay of Bengal: III. Pectinolytic activity of filamentous fungi isolated from marine sediment

摘要

Benthic filamentous marine fungal population in the continental slope of Bay of Bengal was studied. The sediment samples were obtained from 33 stations between 10°36' N - 20°01'N and 79°59' E - 87°30' E along 11 transects at 3 different depths i.e. ca. 200m, 500m, 1000m in each transect on Bay of Bengal. Filamentous fungal population ranged from 5.17 to 59.51 CFU g~(-1) dry weight sediment. A total of 90 fungal cultures were isolated and screened for pectinolytic activity to understand their rolein the biogeochemical cycle. Of all the isolates tested (85 isolates) 72.94% isolates showed pectinolytic activity. Six pectinolytic fungal genera were recorded and among them Aspergillus was the dominating genus (35.29%) followed by Penicillium (14.11%).