FUNGICAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATED WITH SEAWEEDS FROM ANTARCTICA

Carolina P. Loque Pessanha Loque (UFOP); Luiz H. Rosa Rosa (UFOP); Adriana O. Medeiros O. Medeiros (UFBA); Franciane M. Pellizzari Pellizzari (FAFIPAR); Eurico C. de Oliveira de Oliveira (IB-USP); Carlos A. Rosa Rosa (UFMG)

Seaweeds represent the second main association with marine fungi and almost 30% of filamentous marine fungi are associated with algae. The interactions among algae and microorganisms are important factors in the evolution, conservation and commercial exploitation of the marine environment. Polar seaweeds are strongly adapted to low temperatures and they are characterized by a high degree of endemism. In Antarctica, seaweeds have an important ecological role as food for invertebrates and vertebrates organisms, as well in the nutrient cycling and habitat structure. Studies of distribution and occurrence of marine fungi associated to seaweeds are scarce. The aim of our study was to recover and identify marine fungi living in association with the seaweeds species Adenocystis utricularis, Desmarestia anceps, Monostroma hariotii, and Palmaria decipiens inhabiting the Antarctica Peninsula. From 60 algal samples (20 from each species) representing 180 algal fragments, a total of 75 fungal isolates were obtained, which 27 represent filamentous fungi and 48 yeast isolates. Twenty-five filamentous fungi were obtained from A. utricularis and two from D. anceps. Thirty-eight yeast isolates were obtained from A. utricularis, eight from D. anceps, and two from P. decipiens. The predominant filamentous fungus was Geomyces pannorum, which 19 isolates were recovered from A. utricularis and two from D. anceps. Metschnikowia australis was the prevalent yeast species associated with the thallus tissues of three seaweeds. Our current understanding of the relationship between seaweeds and fungi is limited. These works contributes to the basic knowledge of fungi from polar environments and opens an unexplored research field. Detailed assessment from associated fungi on seaweeds will be necessary due their key role on nutrient cycling for Antarctic ecosystems.