Biological and metabolic effects of the association between the microalga Galdieria sulphuraria and the fungus Penicillium citrinum.

ABSTRACT: Contamination of microalgae cultures can reduce their productivity and affect the quality of biomass and valuable bioproducts. In this article, after having isolated and identified for the first time the filamentous fungus Penicillium citrinum from heterotrophic cultures of the red polyextremophilic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria, we investigated the biological and metabolic significance of this alga-fungus association. In the same medium, both organisms grow better in each other's presence than separately. Both cell density and cell size of G. sulphuraria increase in co-cultures compared to pure alga cultures. In co-cultures, despite very severe growth conditions, the load of P. citrinum increases compared to pure fungus cultures. Optical microscope images have shown physical contact bet

SUBMITTER: Salvatore MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9889788 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature