Diversity and technological potential of fungi from solar salterns of southern India

Twenty three species belonging to ten genera of fungi were isolated by two methods from three saltern soils of southern India. Species of Aspergillus were the most common fungi present in these samples. Three of these fungi, viz. Aspergillus sp. 3, A. terreus, and a sterile fungus (SF2) were further studied for their salt tolerance, production of some extracellular enzymes and bioactive metabolites as influenced by external salt concentration. The fungi were halotolerant and not halophilic and two of them could grow on 20% NaCl medium. Extracellular enzyme production was influenced by salt in these fungi. Some enzymes were produced through a range of salt concentration (0 to 18 %), some enzymes showed more activity in the presence of salt and a few enzymes were salt-induced. Antialgal and antifungal metabolites were elaborated only in the presence of salt.