Kelly-Castro, Emily C.

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    Potential bioremediation role of manglicolous fungi associated with the mangrove tree, Rhizophora mangle, in Puerto Rico
    (2016) Kelly-Castro, Emily C.; Cafaro, Matías J.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Ríos-Velázquez, Carlos; Maldonado Ramírez, Sandra L.; Department of Biology; Ramírez Durand, Lillian
    Mangroves are tropical ecosystems that are constantly exposed to unknown amounts of different pollutants from motorboats such as gasoline or diesel. They harbor a group of fungi called “manglicolous fungi”, able to synthesize all the necessary enzymes to degrade lignin. Lignolytic fungi produce extracellular enzymes with very low substrate specificity, being fit for degradation of different compounds. Several lignolytic fungi are known to degrade PAHs due to the irregular structure of lignin. Since lignolytic enzymes have low substrate specificity, compounds with similar structure to lignin might induce the production of such enzymes. The main objective of this study was to establish the cability of some fungal isolates from Rhizophora mangrove wood to use other carbon and energy sources, especially xenobiotics such as Congo Red or naphthalene through the lignin degradation pathway. For this study two sampling areas were selected: Bahía Salinas, Cabo Rojo and La Parguera, Lajas. A total of 20 fungi were isolated. Three isolates from each site were picked for experiments using Congo Red and naphthalene as their only carbon and energy source. Samples Penicillium citrinum (RmBS 2-1-2) and Aspergillus caelatus (IRmPL 5) showed a better ability of using Congo Red, while Fusarium solani (RmBS 3) and Purpureocillium lilacinum (RmPL 5-1e-2) showed a better ability of using naphthalene. These the three isolates were tested for laccase, Mn peroxidase and Li peroxidase activity in the supernatant. All of the isolates showed activity when grown in basal media with Congo Red or naphthalene. This study supports the hypothesis of fungal isolates from Rhizophora mangle wood using Congo Red and naphthalene as carbon and energy source other than lignin.