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Morphological response to salinity, temperature, and pH changes by marine fungus Epicoccum nigrum

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Abstract

Epicoccum nigrum (strain LQRA39-P) was isolated from sediments collected in Chilean Patagonian fjords using microscopy and molecular techniques. We analyzed adaptive responses of cell wall morphology to salinity, temperature, and pH in order to explain the ability of E. nigrum to co-inhabit both marine and freshwater environments. For this purpose, E. nigrum was cultured in a series of media with variations in salinity (freshwater and seawater), pH (acidic, neutral, and basic), and temperature (5 to 25 °C). Changes were observed through transmission electron microscopy. A direct correlation between increased salinity and cell wall thickening (> 0.2 μm) was observed, along with a significant relationship between pH and the presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the outside of the cell wall. The observed morphological changes could confirm that an ubiquitous fungus such as E. nigrum requires adaptive responses to co-inhabit freshwater, marine, and terrestrial substrates.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Mr. Estay and Mr. Alarcón of the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) laboratory and researchers Dr. Reinoso and Dr. Cajas for their contribution to the study of fungus.

Funding

We are grateful for the financial support of Project Fondecyt 1151028 and CONICYT PIA/APOYO CCTE AFB170007. Dr. Ahumada-Rudolph expresses his gratitude to the post-doctoral program of the Directorate of Investigation, University of Bío-Bío.

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  1. Laboratorio de Bioprocesos y Biotratamientos, Departamento de Ingeniería en Maderas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Collao 1202, PO Box 5-C, Concepción, Chile

    Ramón Ahumada-Rudolph

  2. Department of Geography, School of Architecture, Urbanism and Geography, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

    Vanessa Novoa

  3. Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

    José Becerra

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  1. Ramón Ahumada-Rudolph
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  3. José Becerra
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Correspondence to Vanessa Novoa.

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Ahumada-Rudolph, R., Novoa, V. & Becerra, J. Morphological response to salinity, temperature, and pH changes by marine fungus Epicoccum nigrum. Environ Monit Assess 191, 35 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7166-5

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