Isolation and characterization of pigment producing fungi

Abstract

The current study aimed to isolate and identify different fungal isolates and investigate their potential to produce pigments. From the current study, thirty fungal species belonging to ten genera were isolated from rhizosphere, rhizoplane, phyllosphere and phylloplane of four plants (Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., Zea mays L., and Vicia faba L.). Aspergillus was the most common fungus followed by Penicillium. The results showed that 19 (out of the 30 tested fungal isolates) exhibited various degrees of pigment production on Sabouraud Dextrose Broth medium. The yellow colored fungal pigments were produced by Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Emericella nidulans, Eurotium chevalieri, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium citrinum. Whereas, brown colored fungal pigments were produced by Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus ochraceus and Alternaria alternata, as well, orange pigment was produced by Epicoccum nigrum and red pigment was produced by Penicillium purpurogenum. Only seven pigment-producing fungal isolates were considered as high producers (conc. > 3g/L), of which, Penicillium purpurogenum (PP2) was the highest producer of fungal pigments, yielding 5.156 g/L. So Penicillium purpurogenum is considered as promising fungal strain for production of natural pigments that may provide a viable green alternative to the current sources of pigments for the use in prospective food industry and industry of textiles.