BAROTOLERANCE OF FUNGI ISOLATED FROM DEEP-SEA SEDIMENTS OF THE INDIAN-OCEAN

Two species of filamentous fungi, Aspergillus ustus (Bain.) Them & Chu rch and Graphium sp., were isolated from calcareous animal shells at d epths of 860 m in the Arabian Sea and 965 m in the Bay of Bengal. Labo ratory experiments showed germination of conidia, growth of hyphae and microconidiation in both the fungi at 100 bar pressure at 10 and 30 d egrees C, suggesting barotolerance. The fungi also secreted barotolera nt protease under these conditions. Protease synthesised and secreted in cultures grown at 1 bar was also active under 100 bar pressure at 1 0 and 30 degrees C. At 10 degrees C, the fungi showed better conidial germination, growth and protease secretion when subjected to 100 bar t han when grown at 1 atmosphere. The results indicate barotolerance of terrestrial species of fungi and suggest that they might be active und er deep-sea conditions.