A novel fungus Penicillium canescens LS-4.2 with algicidal activity against the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Abstract

In this study, the fungus strain LS-4.2 isolated from the bottom sediments of Lake Lower Suzdalskoe was tested for its algicidal activity. We identified the strain LS-4.2 as Penicillium canescens summing its morphological characteristics with the reported DNA sequence. We revealed that the filtrate of a 7-day culture of the fungus suppressed the cell growth of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa. Our results showed that the filtrate caused rapid M. aeruginosa growth inhibition up to complete cell lysis recorded after 4 days. Living fungal mycelia did not suppress the growth of cyanobacterium. According to the results of this study we suppose that strain LS-4.2 may be a potential bioagent in the control of cyanobacterial blooms.