Isolation and characterization of filamentous fungi from wood and soil samples of “La Lorena”, Sonsón, Antioquia (Colombia), natural reserve

Abstract

Fungi, with all their biological and enzymatic qualities, could have great potential being implemented in industrial processes. In this study, filamentous fungi from Sonsón-Antioquia region were isolated and characterized. A morphological characterization was carried out using taxonomic keys and additionally a biochemical characterization qualitatively evaluated the amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic, proteolytic, catalase, peroxidase, and laccase capacity of the strains. Furthermore, isolated fungi were molecularly identified using the LSU region of the rDNA (28S). Among the strains identified, Trichoderma sp., Penicillium sp., Mucor sp. Aspergillus sp. and Lecythophora sp. genera were found and it was observed that the analyzed fungi present at least one of the seven enzymatic activities evaluated and some genera such as Trichoderma sp. and Aspergillus sp. present even six of them. Therefore, the isolated strains show desirable characteristics in food, paper, cosmetic, and textile industries, and in areas such as bioremediation and biological control.

Keywords

• morphological characterization;
• molecular characterization;
• 28S LSU rDNA;
• screening;
• amylases;
• proteases;