Isolation and morphological characterization of marine fungi in Manila Bay.

Abstract

Fungi exist in a wide range of habitats, including marine environment. Manila Bay is a natural harbor and is the main economic gateway to Luzon. Manila Bay is a saline alkaline body of water, approximately 1994 square kilometers in area and lies southeast of South China Sea. Grab water samples were collected in duplicates from six designated points throughout the shoreline. Water temperature, pH, salinity, resistivity, conductivity, total dissolved solids and dissolved oxygen were determined. Dilutions of each water sample were plated in potato dextrose agar acidified by tartaric acid. Fungal isolates obtained were cultured at room temperature and exposed to penicillin and streptomycin to inhibit the possible growth of bacteria. Twenty-nine isolates were isolated and morphologically characterized while the isolated yeast was not identified. The fungal isolates were Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Chrysosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Trichoderma sp., and Aspergillus spp.. The unidentified yeast isolates were found out to be non-Candida yeasts.