Abstract
Thermophilic, thermotolerant and heat-resistant fungi developed different physiological traits, enabling them to sustain or even flourish under elevated temperatures, which are life-hostile for most other eukaryotes. With the growing demand of heat-stable molecules in biotechnology and industry, the awareness of heat-adapted fungi as a promising source of respective enzymes and biomolecules is still increasing. The aim of this study was to test two different strategies for the efficient isolation and identification of distinctly heat-adapted fungi from easily accessible substrates and locations. Eight compost piles and ten soil sites were sampled in combination with different culture-dependent approaches to describe suitable strategies for the isolation and selection of thermophilous fungi. Additionally, an approach with a heat-shock treatment, but without elevated temperature incubation led to the isolation of heat-resistant mesophilic species. The cultures were identified based on morphology, DNA barcodes, and microsatellite fingerprinting. In total, 191 obtained isolates were assigned to 31 fungal species, from which half are truly thermophilic or thermotolerant, while the other half are heat-resistant fungi. A numerous amount of heat-adapted fungi was isolated from both compost and soil samples, indicating the suitability of the used approaches and that the richness and availability of those organisms in such environments are substantially high.
Highlights
Fungi can grow in a wide range of conditions and inhabit a multitude of environments
Using strategy 2, eight species were isolated from compost substrate, while 4 of those were only isolated in this strategy and by using the heatshock treatment
A total amount of 31 fungal species were isolated from compost (20 isolates) and soil (18 isolates) samples, from which 18 can be considered as thermophilous and 13 as mesophilic heat-resistant species (Table 2)
Summary
Fungi can grow in a wide range of conditions and inhabit a multitude of environments. Adaptation to specific environmental conditions can provide a considerable ecological advantage in contrast to less adapted organisms. Ecological niches characterized by extreme abiotic factors can be occupied to avoid competition situations or to gain advantages in habitats with both stable and fluctuating environmental conditions. Based on their growth temperature ranges, fungi are classified as psychrophilic, mesophilic, thermophilic, or thermotolerant. And mesophily, as the abilities to grow at low (under 20 °C) and moderate (20–40 °C) temperatures, respectively, are widespread features among fungi. The ability to grow at higher temperatures as thermophilous, i.e., as Section Editor: Marc Stadler
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