FUNGI ISOLATED FROM PLANT SPECIES COLLECTED IN THE ARCTOWSKI REGION, ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Abstract

The distribution of fungi in Antarctica is linked to the distribution of hosts such as birds, invertebrate populations and vegetation, consisting mainly of bryophyte and lichen communities. Light is a factor which influences the growth, reproduction and physiology of fungi due to the deleterious effects of radiation released. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of light on radial mycelial growth of two species of filamentous fungi found in Antarctica: Pseudogymnoascus pannorum (Link) Minnis & D.L. Lindner and an unidentified strain growing over angiosperm Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. and on the moss Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske, respectively. The collections of material for this study were conducted during the Brazilian Antarctic expedition XXXI (2012-2013). The strains were isolated in solid potato dextrose agar medium, with pH adjusted to 4 and incubated at 26±1°C. Statistical results show that the variable light influences the radial mycelial growth of these fungi.