Screening and identification of oleaginous moulds for lipid production

Aim : The present study was carried out to isolate the moulds from garden soils of Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Cubbon Park Bangalore City, India and screen them for their oleaginicity. Methodology : Several types of moulds were isolated randomly from garden soils and screened for their lipid production. Twenty five moulds were screened for their abilities to produce lipids. Potential lipid producers were identified by cultural method and confirmed by ITS region gene Sanger DNA sequencing. The fatty acid profile of two mould isolates was identified using GC-FID. Results Interestingly, two isolates such as GS7 and GS12 were found to be promising lipid producers among twenty five screened moulds, and maximum lipid contents found in GS7 and GS12 were 22 and 24.3%, respectively. The mould isolates were identified as Penicillium citrinum (GS7) and Trichoderma asperellum (GS12) using, navy characteristics and Sanger Sequencing. Consensus gene sequences were submitted to NCBI genbank and Accession numbers (10(865284 and KY623504) were obtained. The fatty acid profile of Pencillium citrinum showed 56.85% of saturated fatty acid (SFA), 32.20% of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and 10.95% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), while Trichoderma. asperellum showed 47.73% of saturated fatty acid (SFA), 25.12% of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and 27.09% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), respectively. Interpretation: (Penicillium citrinum) and GS12 (Trichoderma asperellum) described in the study were identified as:promising lipid producers. This study would help in better selection of moulds for producing lipid which ate suitable for biodiesel production. [GRAPHICS] .